EC promise on Oikya Front's fair polls demands satisfies Dr Kamal, but BNP is ‘suspicious’

Dr Kamal Hossain has said he is “happy” with the Election Commission’s assurance of cooperation, but the BNP appears suspicious of the commission’s eagerness to hold fair polls.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 14 Nov 2018, 01:31 PM
Updated : 14 Nov 2018, 01:31 PM

The Jatiya Oikya Front leaders met Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in Dhaka on Wednesday to press their different demands, including the one for deferring the polls further.

“We are satisfied. They (EC) have assured us of considering our demands. I hope such cooperation will continue until the end of the election,” Dr Kamal said after the around two-hour meeting.

The EC pledged steps to keep the atmosphere favourable to fair polls, the Oikya Front chief added.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, however, skirted a direct reply when he was asked whether the party was satisfied with the EC’s words.

“Whether or not we will be in the elections fully depends on the behaviour of the Election Commission and polls-time government,” he said.

He said they discussed their demands for deferring the polls, no use of electronic voting machines or EVMs, and deployment of the army in the meeting with the CEC and other commissioners.

“We’ve said that the election will be meaningless without Khaleda Zia,” he said, demanding release of the party chief who is jailed for corruption.  

“They (EC) have said they will look into the issues,” he added.

Mirza Fakhrul also said the clashes between the police and the BNP supporters in front of the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters earlier in the day was “not a good sign for the polls at all.” 

He believes a fair vote will be possible if the EC uses its constitutional powers properly.