Chandpur district BNP has demanded removal of its Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Mazedur Rahman Khan after they said they were denied a meeting with him.

However, when contacted for comment, DC Khan said that anyone can meet with him.

Local BNP leaders made the demand during a meet the press function on Friday (Nov 16).

“We sought a meeting with the DC and the returning officer after the polls schedule was announced. But, he didn’t meet us.” alleged district BNP joint convener Advocate Selim Ullah Selim.

“I told him that you were a DC of the Awami League until now. But, you are now a returning officer. BNP is contesting the polls and we need to meet with you to discuss on the upcoming election,” Selim said he told the DC.

According to him, Khan replied saying, “I’m not bound to meet with you.”

“He told me to meet with him alone at one point and I replied BNP or Oikya Front is not one man’s party,” added Selim.

“If a returning officer acts like that, then how can we expect a free and fair election,” he asked.

Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, a BNP polls aspirant for Chandpur-3 constituency said, “Deputy Commissioner is for all, for all the citizens. We, as a citizen have the right to meet him and talk to him, which he is denying.”

DC Mazedur Rahman Khan, however, said. “Anyone can come according to electoral norms and there is no barrier to that.”

“They can come anytime,” he added.