Speak to Tarique, not EC, Suranjit tells pro-BNP professionals

Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta has said an environment conducive to the city corporation polls, which the BNP demands, cannot be created amid blockade and shutdowns it is enforcing.

He said pro-BNP professionals, who went to meet the Election Commission on Wednesday, should ask BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and party’s Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman to withdraw the protest programmes.

“Why are they going to EC to seek a level playing field? Go to the people’s commission if you can,” Sengupta said.

He was speaking at a discussion in Dhaka.

A delegation of the ‘Citizens’ Committee’, comprising pro-BNP professionals, went to the EC office on Wednesday afternoon.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU) Prof Emajuddin Ahamed led the six-member team.

Sengupta said, “Mr VC (Ahamed), there cannot be a level playing field when blockade and shutdowns are on. It’s not the EC that called the blockade and shutdowns.

“Level playing field cannot be created with (exploding) petrol bombs and (Molotov) cocktails.

“If you want that, please draw the attention of Gulshan and London,” Sengupta said.

BNP chief Khaleda has been staying at her office at Gulshan for around three months while her son Tarique, facing a slew of corruption charges, is in London.

“Go to the Khaleda-Tarique commission before going to the EC,” Sengupta said.

“First, stop blockade, shutdown, and bombings. The 20-Party alliance will have to first announce that it is returning to politics by leaving subversive activities,” he added.

Awami League leaders have been alleging that Tarique is behind BNP’s indefinite blockade that turned violent.

Sengupta said the BNP would have to take responsibility for the killings and violence during the blockade.

He also urged Khaleda to join the city corporation polls, saying there would be “nothing to lose” in taking part in the elections.