The BNP has alleged law enforcement agencies are raiding houses of its leaders and activists and intimidating them ahead of elections to Dhaka south and north city corporations.
"The government is creating problem over the city polls. Our Bangshal unit president and councillor candidate [Tajuddin Ahmed] Taju was arrested yesterday [Thursday]. They started arresting our popular candidates to keep them away from campaigning," BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said.
The BNP leader came up with the allegations at a press conference at the party's central office at Naya Paltan in Dhaka on Friday, reports UNB.
Rizvi said: "Many of our councillor candidates told me that police threatened to arrest them or create trouble for them if they contest the polls."
He said they are joining the election braving all odds and enduring repression to expose the despotic attitude of the government.
Taju, who submitted his nomination paper to vie for Ward 32 councillor post in the Dhaka South City Corporation polls with BNP's support, was arrested in the capital's Tikatuli intersection on Thursday.
Rizvi said they have almost finalized their councillor candidates for the two city corporations, and will complete the process by January 9.
He also alleged that the jail authorities have been barring the relatives of their Chairperson Khaleda Zia from meeting her for the last 19 days.
"It is a violation of the jail code."
He urged the government to take steps to allow Khaleda's family members to meet her.