‘PM violates electoral code of conduct by using Ganabhaban’
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Friday alleged that prime minister Sheikh Hasina herself is creating barriers towards ensuring a level-playing field by ‘violating’ the electoral code of conduct.
“Isn’t the retired army officers’ commitment to working for Awami League at Ganabhaban in presence of the prime minister a violation of the electoral code of conduct?”, asked BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office, he mentioned over 150 retired army officers met prime minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on Tuesday and promised to work for ensuring Awami League’s victory.
Rizvi alleged that the prime minister’s such activities using Ganabhaban and enjoining all government facilities are making the election controversial.
The BNP leader also said Sheikh Hasina’s such ‘illegal’ activities have demonstrated that the government is again moving on to hold a one-sided and voter-less election.
Rizvi alleged that the prime minister on Tuesday made ‘indecent and provocative’ remarks against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, its acting chairman Tarique Rahman and the top most leader of the Jatiya Oikya Front.
“She can’t make such statements after the announcement of the election schedule. The prime minister violated the code of conduct with her offensive comments.”
He said Hasina also took interviews of Awami League’s nomination seekers at Ganabhaban, held a meeting with returning officers, and worked out plans with ministers and MPs at Ganabhaban to ensure her party’s victory in a ‘lopsided election’.
The BNP leader alleged that though they lodged written complaints with the election commission (EC) about the violation of the code of conduct by the prime minister, it still did not take any action against her.
He said the election commission is providing the government all-out cooperation in holding a stage-managed election.
Rizvi urged the EC to exercise its constitutional authorities to ‘restore’ people’s ‘lost’ voting rights. “We hope you will take prompt action against the prime minister for violating the electoral code of conduct, and take steps for creating a proper election atmosphere.”
