Saying that her party would stay in the vote battle till the end, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has called upon people to cast their votes for the Sheaf of Paddy (BNP's election symbol).
The former premier alleged that the ruling party had completed all the arrangements to turn the municipal polls into a “farcical” one as the opposition candidates were being intimidated, harassed and threatened.
Reiterating the demand for deployment of army, the BNP chief asked the incumbent election commission to prove its neutrality and competency by holding a free, fair and credible election.
“Please gather in a large number and go to the polling stations together to protect the dignity of the vote. Those who snatched your voting rights, drove away your elected representatives through an evil design have no right to seek votes from people.”
United strength of people is enough to foil the autocratic ruler's evil design. “We have also decided to stay in the ballot battle till the end,” she said at a press conference at her Gulshan office on Monday.
She also urged people to resist the ruling party’s plan to influence the municipal elections together in a peaceful manner.
Khaleda claimed that her party participated in the election as part of democratic movement though her party boycotted the January 5 election.
She read out a written speech but she did not entertain any question. “We will reply to the queries another day. Khaleda held a Sheaf of Paddy aloft and placed it before the journalist seeking votes.
Alleging that the opposition candidates were harassed, she said BNP candidates were threatened to withdraw their candidacies in many places.
“We demanded deployment of army but the Election Commission (EC) said the situation did not demand army deployment.”
Khaleda came down heavily on the EC saying that it had completed its task to serve only show-cause notices.
She said the EC had sought the prime minister's intervention to stop violation of electoral code of conduct. “Through this the commission has projected its helplessness and incapability.”
On the recent attacks on foreigners and bomb blasts in various places, Khaleda said, “Contradictory comments were made on those incidents in different tires of the government.”
Blaming the Awami League for the rise of militancy, she said national unity is needed to root out militancy from the country.
“Concern arose in different quarters whether the militants have regrouped again or whether they have any international link. It is a very important issue for our national security. We have to face this sort of crisis united and through national consensus.”