BNP sees sign of unilateral election, slams EC

BNP on Wednesday alleged that the Election Commission's move not to include the Defence Forces in the definition of law enforcement agency in the draft amendment to Representation of the People Order (RPO) is a sign of another lopsided national election. "As per media reports, the draft of the RPO amendment has been finalized without including the Defence Forces in the definition of law enforcers. It has exposed the sign of holding a unilateral election," said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka. Last year, during a dialogue with the Election Commission, intellectuals, civil society members and many political parties including BNP recommended deployment of the army in the upcoming general election. "We demanded the deployment of army with magistracy power, but the government has now taken the step to shut down the way for it," Rizvi added. Turning to the ongoing quota-reform movement, he alleged that the government is trying to malign students’ spontaneous demonstrations by making various unguarded remarks. "The movement for reforming the existing quota scheme in government service is being carried out by students.  Awami League leaders are misleading people by saying that certain quarters have instigated the students. Their accusations are absolutely absurd," he added. He came down hard on Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury for calling the demonstrating students the children of Rajakars (collaborators), saying it is her tactic to confuse people. Rizvi also accused leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League’s student front Chhatra League of “brutally” repressing the demonstrators at different residential halls of Dhaka University over the few last days. "We strongly protest and condemn it."