BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday asked the election commission why the army would not be deployed to ensure security of the voters during the city polls.
“Why can’t the army personnel provide security to their own people when they have earned reputation in peace missions abroad,” she told a roadside electioneering rally in Dhaka’s Kuril area.
The BNP leader made the observation when a pedestrian expressed his doubts about free and fair elections saying, “Madam, a fair ballot is not possible without deploying the army.”
Khaleda Zia demanded deployment of the army troops at the polling stations to ensure free and fair voting and safe movement of the voters.
“It’s not possible to provide security in and around polling centres sitting inside the cantonments. The army could not play its role when 57 officers were killed during the BDR mutiny in Pilkhana in 2009,” she said.
Stating that her party wants a terrorism-free Dhaka, the BNP chief said the Awami League has been isolated from the people. “We want change,” she added.
Khaleda Zia referred to attacks on her motorcade thrice in three days and said the government wanted to stop her by resorting to terrorist activities. “The people are with us and we will go ahead,” she said.
The BNP leader mentioned that the people have already taken their decision to cast votes for M Manjur Alam in Chittagong, Mirza Abbas in Dhaka South and Tabith Awal in Dhaka North.
She called upon the people of three cities to go the polling stations in the early morning to vote for their favourite candidates.
Khaleda Zia came out of her Gulshan residence after a day’s pause following three consecutive attacks on her motorcade. to campaign for the BNP-supported mayoral and councillor candidates.
Source: Prothom Alo
