BNP asks EC to deploy troops, says police not obeying orders

BNP leaders who frequent the Election Commission with complaints of arrests and attacks now say police are not listening to the commission’s orders.

The party has reiterated its demand for troops deployment immediately for the sake of fair polls.

Selima Rahman, a vice-chairperson of the party, expressed ire over police’s role in the election after submitting their complaints at the commission on Sunday.

Ruling Awami League leaders, aided by police, attacked BNP’s ‘paddy sheaf’ candidates and activists in at least six constituencies in Dhaka and other regions on Saturday, the BNP alleged.

The party also alleged police harassment in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.

According to Selima, EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told the BNP leaders that the complaints were regularly placed in commission meetings and actions followed discussions.

“We’ve demanded immediate army deployment as police are not listening to the puppet commission,” she said.

“Police are acting as if they are our opponents. The government wants to conduct another one-sided election like that of 2014,” she said.

No candidate with ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol in Dhaka could start campaign with only 13 days to the vote, BNP leaders alleged.

The family of BNP Joint Secretary General Mahbub Uddin Khokon also made a complaint to the EC demanding removal of Sonaimuri Police Station OC Abdul Mazid over the attack on the ‘paddy sheaf’ candidate in Noakhali on Saturday.

In the complaint, Khokon’s son Sakib Mahbub alleged at least 40 leaders and activists, including Khokon, were injured in gunfires shot by the OC.