BNP wants to pursue their hidden agenda by deliberately undermining the Election Commission (EC) with false allegations, claimed the 14-party Alliance.
“We have submitted an eight-point demand to the EC,” Samyabadi Party General Secretary Dilip Barua who led a delegation of the ruling coalition to the EC told the media on Friday (Nov 23).
“BNP’s behaviour is deceitful. On one hand, they are acting like they are looking forward to the polls while on the other they will not think twice to leverage opportunities to foil it,” he alleged.
Terming BNP’s demand to reshuffle EC officials as an evil attempt to psychologically weaken the commission, Barua said, “They are inciting violence in the polls by wanting to control polling centres.”
When asked about the alliances’ stance on reshuffling polls officials, he said, “The commission can certainly take measures in case of specific allegation against anyone,” adding it’s entirely under the EC’s jurisdiction.

“Any necessary steps on the EC’s part to make the polls free, fair and neutral is welcome,” said Barua.

On BNP’s acting chief Tarique Rahman’s recent appearance via video conference during aspirants’ interview, he said, “He is not important. A fugitive convict cannot make public speeches according to the country’s law.”

Jatiya Party (JP) Secretary General Shahidul Islam said, “The election commission is committed to hold a free, fair and neutral election. We are convinced at their comments and we also assured them of our cooperation.”

The 14-party delegation included Awami League leader Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Workers’ Party’s Kamrul Hasan and JaSad’s Nader Chowdhury among others while Election Commissioner Rafiqul Islam and Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed attended the meeting.