BNP warns govt of fresh agitation if vote is unfair

The warning was issued at a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters on Monday, a day before the elections to the Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong city corporations.

BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed said, “We want to say it unequivocally that the movement which is on to establish the right to vote will be stepped up if voters and (polling) agents are prevented from going to voting centres.”

The party easing its three-month violent agitation for snap elections under a caretaker administration, is claiming the Election Commission has failed to create a congenial environment for polls.

The BNP had boycotted the last general election but endorsed party leaders in the city polls slated for Tuesday.

Moudud Ahmed said, “The government will be held responsible if the elections are not fair.”

He said, “It will be impossible for us to take part in any future election under this government if an unfair blueprint is implemented in the city elections.”

The BNP leader said their party-endorsed candidates had completed their preparations despite adversities.

“We think people have risen for change. Our candidates will certainly win tomorrow’s elections if they are held in free and fair manner,” he said.

Criticising the decision against deploying the army on election duty, former law minister Moudud said, “We heard the government had prepared a blueprint to secure the polls results in their favour with the help of police and RAB.”

He said many of the BNP-backed contestants could not campaign due to “harassment and oppression by law enforcers, let alone the creation of a level playing field”.

Moudud said BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s motorcades came under attack on four occasions and attempts were made to kill her. “We’re advancing amid such uncertainty,” he said.

He said they lodged complaints with the Election Commission against the intimidation of their polling agents but there was no action.

Another Standing Committee member of the party, ASM Hannan Shah said a BNP monitoring cell would start working at its headquarters from 8am Tuesday to observe the polling.