Bangladesh Nationalist Party Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman yesterday urged the Election Commission to hold the forthcoming municipal polls slated for December 30 in a free, fair and credible manner.
“The upcoming polls are an opportunity for the EC to rid itself of the previous taint. The people will away from the elections if they are held in the previous fashion. The EC will now have to choose between these two options,” said Noman. The BNP leader made this comment while speaking at a press conference. The BNP organised the press conference at Chittagong Press Club.
Abduallah Al Noman also alleged that ruling party men were continuously intimidating BNP’s leaders and activists so that they could not take part in electoral campaigns.
“The scenario is same all over the country. Terrorist activities are being committed all around. Our party fellows are being incriminated in fabricated cases,” alleged Noman.
“The municipal polls will turn out to be farcical if they are held like January 5 elections. The Awami League will have to concede political defeat if the forthcoming polls become a one-horse race,” Noman said.
“It is high time to hold the polls in an impartial manner. Actions should be taken against the culprits those are involved in assaulting on BNP men,” added Noman.
“The EC is a constitutional institution. It is the task of the institution to ensure free and fair elections. The people will determine what price the EC will have to pay for not discharging the task,” said Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, adviser to the BNP Chairperson.
“Our candidates and party men will not leave the polling centres as long as the ballot boxes are there. We will not pull out of the race halfway through the elections and we will remain in the election field on polling day till voters can cast their votes,” vowed Mir Nasir. While reading out the written statement at the press conference, BNP central organising secretary Golam Akbar Khandakar said the EC announced to ensure a level-playing field while declaring election schedules.
Kalyan Party Chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, BNP’s central committee Mahbuber Rahman Shamim, Chittagong district south BNP president Zafrul Islam Chowdhury, general secretary Gazi Md Shahjan and many others were present at the press conference.
