The Election Commission has no authority to stop BNP from holding its Dhaka March programme, the commission’s chief Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said on Thursday.
“It is not an election-related programme. The commission does not reserve a right to stop anything not related to the elections,” he told reporters.
The statement came after Awami League requested the Election Commission to take steps against the December 29 programme of the BNP.
Main opposition BNP, who will not be attending the January 5 national polls, has called the Dhaka March on December 29.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia laid down the programme on Tuesday and called out to the nation to join in the march near the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.
She had also called out to the nation to boycott the “farcial” elections.
On Wednesday, Home Minister MK Alamgir met Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak and requested actions against the Dhaka march programme.
Apparently to the reply of the request, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said it would not be possible.
Previously, Awami League leaders had said any violence in the name of the Dhaka March programme will not be tolerated at any cost.
However, BNP were determined to hold their Dhaka March slated for a week ahead of the January 5 national elections.
– See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2013/dec/26/ec-cant-intervene-bnps-dhaka-march#sthash.vcE96yzE.dpuf
The Election Commission has no authority to stop BNP from holding its Dhaka March programme, the commission’s chief Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said on Thursday.
“It is not an election-related programme. The commission does not reserve a right to stop anything not related to the elections,” he told reporters.
The statement came after Awami League requested the Election Commission to take steps against the December 29 programme of the BNP.
Main opposition BNP, who will not be attending the January 5 national polls, has called the Dhaka March on December 29.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia laid down the programme on Tuesday and called out to the nation to join in the march near the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.
She had also called out to the nation to boycott the “farcial” elections.
On Wednesday, Home Minister MK Alamgir met Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak and requested actions against the Dhaka march programme.
Apparently to the reply of the request, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said it would not be possible.
Previously, Awami League leaders had said any violence in the name of the Dhaka March programme will not be tolerated at any cost.
However, BNP were determined to hold their Dhaka March slated for a week ahead of the January 5 national elections.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
