Criticising the Election Commission for its decision of involving army in the January-5 ‘farcical election’, opposition BNP on Saturday alleged that the commission is plotting to make the armed forces stand against people.
“We’re surprised seeing the news of engaging the patriot armed forces in the unilateral and farcical election,” said BNP spokesman Nazrul Islam Khan.
Addressing a press briefing at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said the ‘incompetent’ Election Commission itself has taken the position against people as a tool of the government for fulfilling its desire. They (EC) are now making an evil design to put the army, who stand beside people during their bad time, against people.”
Nazrul, also a BNP standing committee member, made the remarks while giving the party’s reaction to the EC’s decision of deploying army in the 10th parliamentary elation.
On Friday, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said members of the army will remain deployed for 15 days from December 26 to January 9 for maintaining the law and order before, during and after the January-5 general election.
Criticising the EC for its army deployment plan, the BNP leader said, “We condemn the Election Commission’s evil-move. We think the deployment of army is unnecessary in the farcical election in which people have no participation and interest.”
Nazrul termed the January-5 election controversial and questionable as more than half of the MPs have already got elected unopposed without the participation of the opposition parties. “We think the army should not get engaged in such an election.”
BNP international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman, assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony, Shamimur Rahman Shamim and Asadul Kabir Shaheen were, among others, present.
Source: UNBConnect