BNP threatens EC siege

“The law-and-order situation has been deliberately allowed to go out of control in the Upazilas ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday) polls,” party’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed on Friday.

He said the news media had expressed concerns over the third phase of the polls.

As many as 81 Upazilas in 41 districts will vote in the local government elections on Saturday.

“We’ll lay siege to the EC if the ruling party activists resort to violence and try to occupy polling centres tomorrow,” he warned.

Candidates backed by the BNP have won in most of the Upazilas in the first two phases held just over a month after the Jan 5 national elections boycotted by the BNP.

Rizvi claimed the ruling party activists were on the rampage at Barisal Sadar, Muladi, Babuganj, Hijla, Meherpur Sadar, Pirojpur Sadar, Tangail’s Gopalpur, Shariatpur Sadar and at Sherpur’s Shreebardi Upazilas.