The BNP-led 20-party alliance yesterday alleged that sign of a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere to hold elections to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations is still a far cry.
“Announcement of holding elections to three city corporations is nothing but a mockery of election,” Barkatullah Bulu, joint secretary general of the party, said at a press release.
The press release said the Election Commission is subservient to the government.
The EC has become synonymous with the government which is now going to stage an election drama to deceive people like that of January 5 polls.
If the EC had wanted to make the election acceptable to all quarters it should not have declared the schedule this month on the advise of the inspector general of police.
As the EC is a toothless tiger none of the candidates are obeying electoral code of conduct. It has not taken any advise from civil society members and intellectuals before the announcement of election schedule.
Bulu said the election schedule was announced at a time when the ongoing movement of the 20-party alliance was imminent.
He asked the government to withdraw all false and politically motivated cases filed against opposition leaders and activists.
The BNP leader also hoped that the government would take positive steps to hold a free and fair election under a non-partisan government.
If the government fails to do so it will have to pay dearly, the release warned.
Bulu demanded immediate return of missing BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif on Tuesday said disappearance mystery of Salahuddin Ahmed would soon be unfolded.
The opposition alliance believes that the government has the full knowledge of Salahuddin Ahmed’s whereabouts, Bulu said.
