US role in Bangladesh election frustrates BNP

The BNP has expressed frustration at the recent activities of the US saying the world power is not playing the role expected of it in Bangladesh’s elections.

The party, which had boycotted the general election five years ago citing the absence of a caretaker government, is contesting in the Dec 30 polls with the Awami League in power.

The BNP has alleged the government is influencing the administration, law-enforcing agencies and the Election Commission because the ruling party “will not win if fair polls are held”.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met UN and US officials in New York and Washington during a tour in September.

During the discussions, the BNP leader brought allegations of oppression against the ruling Awami League.

Release of Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is serving a total of 17 years in jail in two corruption cases, also came up for discussion.

Mirza Fakhrul had said at the time that the UN officials assured the BNP of looking into the issues the party had raised.

Later, the BNP lodged complaints at the EC about cases against its leaders and activists, saying the charges were false and aimed to harass them before election. Now the EC is accused of taking no action following the BNP complaints.

Meanwhile, a Bill was placed in the US Congress on Nov 20 expressing concern over radical religious extremism in Bangladesh.

It called the Jamaat-e-Islami, a key ally of the BNP, and Hifazat-e Islam as ‘theocratic extremist groups’ that pose a threat to democracy and religious minorities.

Religious minorities were targeted by the BNP, Jamaat, and Jamaat’s student front Islami Chhatra Shibir during past elections and in recent years, Congressman Jim Banks (Republican – Indiana) and co-sponsored by Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (Democrat – Hawaii) said in the Bill citing a religious minority group in Bangladesh.

Mirza Fakhrul faced the media over the Bill at a news conference in Dhaka on Friday.

“We haven’t seen the Bill. But let me clear one issue. They (US) see these things, but they don’t play the role they should for free and fair elections accepted by all in Bangladesh,” he replied.

He did not make further comments on the issue, but BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan responded to questions from journalists.

“I will tell you only one thing. What does the US Congress see? Haven't they seen the attack on their ambassador’s car? What else do they see?” he asked.

A car transporting former ambassador Marcia Bernicat in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur came under attack by a group of armed men on Aug 4.

The ambassador, her drivers and security staff had left the area unharmed, the embassy said, but two security vehicles had sustained some damage.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir speaking at a press conference at the party chief's Gulshan offices on Friday.

“NO-ONE FROM JAMAAT”

Though two dozen Jamaat leaders have submitted nomination papers with the BNP’s paddy sheaf logo, Mirza Fakhrul claimed no-one from Jamaat has sought to use his party’s symbol.

“No-one is from Jamaat here. All are of the BNP, paddy sheaf,” he said. 

Mirza Fakhrul has signed the letters confirming the BNP’s nomination this time as their chief Khaleda Zia is in exile in corruption cases while her son and acting chief of the party Tarique Rahman is in self-exile in London.

A total of 696 aspirants have submitted nomination papers as BNP candidates for 295 seats.

Mirza Fakhrul said they were leaving five seats for the candidates of the Jatiya oikya Front Alliance.