BNP stresses army deployment at Narayanganj City polls

The BNP has reiterated the need for a deployment of the army in Narayanganj for the upcoming city corporation elections in a free and fair manner.

The party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the statement, referring to the recent remark of Narayanganj returning officer who had termed the polling centres as being “at risk.”

Therefore, the army should be deployed while holding the polls, Rizvi demanded at a press briefing on Monday.

“Anxiety spreads among general people when a prominent election officer makes a remark like this,” he said.

“The returning officer’s statement highlights the dire need for army deployment in an area that is a hub of crime,” said the senior BNP leader.

The ruling Awami League has nominated as its candidate Selina Hayat Ivy, while the BNP has fielded Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan as its standard bearer for the Narayanganj City Corporation election scheduled for Dec 22.

In his remarks, Rizvi claimed that law enforcers had turned almost “lifeless” in Narayanganj due to the predominance of the local Awami League.

“Murders and extortion are almost like daily affairs there,” he said while describing conditions in the town.

“In these circumstances, the Election Commission is also afraid to take any step toward thwarting irregularities and terror during the polls,” said Rizvi.

The BNP leader condemned the death of three individuals in police firing during demonstration of students for nationalisation of Fulbarhia Degree College in Mymensingh on Sunday.

Calling for justice, he expressed his condolences to the family members of those killed in the incident.