The BNP has branded the Election Commission (EC) ‘a failure’ and claimed the ruling party is apparently desperate to rig the Upazila polls.
Party’s spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the people would reject the ruling Awami League-backed candidates in Saturday’s third phase of the local government elections.
The BNP, which boycotted the Jan 5 general elections, endorsed candidates in Upazila polls and won majority of the posts in the first two phases of elections.
File Photo
Speaking to reporters in Dhaka, Fakhrul said: “From the way ministers and ruling party leaders are issuing statements over the polls, it seems they want to take over the Upazila Parishads by force.”
He alleged leaders and activists of the BNP and its allies were being tortured and implicated in false cases.
“This is why we are saying the polls have not been fair. The Election Commission has completely failed to maintain law and order,” claimed the BNP leader.
“We believe the people would give their mandate against this government if Saturday’s voting is free and fair,” he said.
In the first two phases, the BNP-backed candidates won chairman posts at 96 Upazilas while Awami League-endorsed candidates bagged only 80 such posts.
The BNP has been raising allegations of irregularities in the elections.
Eighty-one Upazilas in 41 districts will go to polls on Saturday in the third phase.
Source: Bd news24