BNP demands reconstitution of EC

BNP has demanded that the Election Commission be reconstituted with impartial people before the announcement of the schedule for the next general election. The party also turned down the recent re-demarcation of 25 constituencies by the commission for what BNP alleges is a “motive to help” Awami League candidates win the polls. "We reject the re-delimitation of 25 parliamentary seats as the Election Commission did it through abusing its power," BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed said on Saturday. Speaking at a discussion, he further said: "We would like to say a fair and credible election is not possible under the current Election Commission. That is why the current Commission must be reconstituted before the announcement of the polls schedule." The top BNP leader said non-partisan and neutral people must be included in the reconstituted Election Commission for ensuring a credible and inclusive election. Nagorik Odhikar Andolon, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the program at National Press Club, demanding the release of “ailing” BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail. Moudud alleged that all the decisions the Election Commission has so far made with a motive to ensure victory of the ruling Awami League in the election. He said the constituencies of many BNP leaders, including the ones of BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and him, were redrawn in such a way so that they cannot join the election. "The Commission has re-demarcated the constituencies to help the government-supported candidates and put us in trouble. It has played an utterly biased role in redrawing the constituencies of all of our senior leaders.”