The BNP has placed blame on the Election Commission, as “22 people” have been killed in the violence centering on the first phase of the Union Parishad polls.
BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told journalists at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters on Thursday.
He said: “The Election Commission played no role in this regard. Rather, it averted responsibility by making some inane comments.”
The BNP leader claimed that from the time the election schedule was announced till voting day, these 22 were killed, and among them three were election candidates.
“The Election Commission is responsible for these killings. Their (Election Commission) subservient behaviour is the reason behind the murders,” he alleged.
Rizvi also raised questions about the “psychological soundness” of Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed.
“Before the election, the CEC said they do not expect cooperation from the administration, and that the police will be held accountable if any violence or confrontation takes place. But after the election, he said the election was fair. It seems that he [CEC] suffers from mental instability.”
The Constitution states the government shall be bound to extend its cooperation whenever the Election Commission seeks to hold a free and fair election, he said.
“If the government does not follow this, then the government violates the Constitution. The Election Commission has power and it should exercise its power. If the commissioner was barred from exercising his power, the commissioner should resign from the post and lodge a case in the court against the government,” he said.
Rizvi claimed that election violence is taking place in many parts of the country, and a dreadful situation prevails in the election areas as Awami League musclemen continue their violence.