BNP to guard city poll centres and claims 99 percent ‘risky’

BNP has dubbed 99 percent poll centres in Dhaka City Corporation as ‘risky’ and has decided to guard them in order to prevent ‘ballot looting’.

Standing Committee Member and chief coordinator of BNP-backed Dhaka North mayor aspirant Mirza Abbas, ASM Hannan Shah, declared the party move at a press briefing on Friday. 

“Ministers and MPs are trying to orchestrate a farcical poll for ruling party-backed candidates. They are attacking our workers, tearing our posters. The administration is arresting leaders and workers, interfering with our poll tasks.

“The Election Commission is not taking preventive steps. Should we, therefore, take it for granted that the EC has joined hands with the government to host a farcical poll?

“We will not let that happen. The voters are with us. We will guard the centres. We will stop anyone trying to loot ballots.”

Expressing fears the votes might be rigged, he said, “We heard they would not allow our agents to work on poll day. They will keep the final tally of ruling party candidates blank during the counting so that they can put up any score they want.”  

He also blasted law enforcers for not treating all candidates neutrally. “Campaigners of ruling party candidates are carrying handguns during campaigns. Police are not detaining them. They are only chasing opposition activists.”

Shah also made allegations that those assigned poll duties were being threatened. “Polling agents are being threatened so that they are unable to work. In a place where a former prime minister is attacked during campaigns you can only imagine how the others are doing.”

He added that his party was treating 99 percent of the centres as risky in the present situation scenario.