Turning down BNP’s request not to hold the Union Parishad (UP) polls along party line, Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz yesterday said the Commission has nothing to do with it.
“Parliament has enacted a law and decided to hold the UP polls under the party banner… so, we’ve nothing to do in this regard at this stage,” he told reporters at his Election Commission Secretariat office.
He also said the rules and code of conduct regarding the UP polls have also been amended in line with the act passed by Parliament while the schedule for the polls also announced.
About BNP’s fear of violence if the polls are held along party line, Shah Nawaz said they think there is no possibility of escalating violence and hampering social bondage because of arranging the UP polls under party line.
“We’ve held the municipal elections under party line as well. The situation did not deteriorate that much. I think neither there will be any disruption in social harmony nor violence during the UP polls,” he said.
Earlier in the day, a four-member BNP delegation, led by party’s joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, met EC secretary Sirajul Islam and handed over a letter raising the party’s an objection to holding the upcoming UP polls along the party line.
In the letter, the party said it thinks the election along party line in the UP polls may damage social bonds at the grassroots level.
“Political violence and conflict may spread to families, villages and localities following such polls,” it said.
On Thursday last, the Election Commission declared election schedules for the first phase election in 752 Union Parishads fixing March 22 for balloting.
