BNP expresses doubt over EC’s polls preparations

Published: November 28, 2018 17:08:16 | Updated: December 07, 2018 17:50:37

The BNP has said the Election Commission’s preparation for holding the parliamentary election is questionable.

"Overall preparations by the Election Commission are questionable. There is no sign of conducting a free and fair election," BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said in a news conference on Wednesday.

He said they noticed that the government was hatching conspiracies to hold a unilateral election, reports bdnews24.com.

“There are no election officials in 85 upazilas. The government is picking the pro-Awami League officials from various ministries to assign them to election duty. The extent of the government’s plot is becoming evident,” said Rizvi.

Rizvi said: “The Awami League's game plan is very clear. That is, there will be one party in Bangladesh -- the Awami League and its allies. There will be no people with dissent and different beliefs. Awami League leaders' message indicates that they are plotting to rig the polls.”

Rizvi claimed that Deputy Secretary Niyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, who was forced to retire, was taken to the RAB-2 office.

“He was picked from his home at 10pm yesterday. He has not returned home since then. It’s a terrible message.”

Rizvi came down heavily on Attorney General Mahbubey Alam for his remarks on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Mahbubey Alam on Tuesday claimed that Khaleda would not be able to participate in the parliamentary elections for five years even if she is acquitted of all charges or the convictions are cancelled.

The attorney general’s comments came after the High Court ruled that the convicts sentenced to more than two years in jail cannot contest elections.

“Countrymen are astounded and shocked by these comments,” Rizvi said.