BNP leader Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday demanded that the army be deployed ahead of the Chittagong City Corporation polls to ensure a fair election.
He claimed that the ruling party cadres from Feni and Comilla districts are entering the city in a bid to rig the ballots at the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls scheduled for April 28.
“Deploy army in the city a week ahead of the election for free and fair polls,” demanded the chief election agent of BNP-backed mayoral candidates M Manjur Alam at a press conference held at his residence in Chittagong city’s Mehedibag area.
Khashru alleged that the gangsters of AL-backed mayoral candidates are threatening the BNP leaders and activists, election agents with dire consequence and barring them from electioneering in the different wards.
“Local thugs in Ward 2 Jalalabad of CCC obstructed our mayoral candidate M Manjur from meeting with the voters,” Khashru added.
Khashru said although the election commissioner and law enforcing agencies have been informed, there was no visible result.
At the press conference the BNP leader also alleged that the ruling party ministers have violated the election code of conduct by giving election related speech and holding meetings.
Criticising the government’s role, Khasru said it has been conspiracy against the opposition candidates to win the city corporation polls by rigging votes as in the January 5 election. Khashru also urged the law enforcing agencies to become neutral and assist the voters.
During the press conference central BNP committee’s Information and Research Affairs Secretary Sayed Wahidul Alam, city BNP’s Vice-President Abu Sufian and Mahbubur Rahman Shameem were present.
