Dhaka – Criticising the Election Commission for its decision of involving army in the January-5 ‘farcical election’, opposition BNP on
Saturday alleged that the commission is plotting to make the armed forces stand against people.
“We’re surprised seeing the news of engaging the patriot armed forces in the unilateral and farcical election,” said BNP spokesman Nazrul
Islam Khan.
Addressing a press briefing at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said the ‘incompetent’ Election Commission itself has taken the
position against people as a tool of the government for fulfilling its desire. They (EC) are now making an evil design to put the army, who
stand beside people during their bad time, against people.”
Nazrul, also a BNP standing committee member, made the remarks while giving the party’s reaction to the EC’s decision of deploying army in
the 10th parliamentary elation.
On Friday, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said members of the army will remain deployed for 15 days from
December 26 to January 9 for maintaining the law and order before, during and after the January-5 general election.
Criticising the EC for its army deployment plan, the BNP leader said, “We condemn the Election Commission’s evil-move. We think the
deployment of army is unnecessary in the farcical election in which people have no participation and interest.”
Nazrul termed the January-5 election controversial and questionable as more than half of the MPs have already got elected unopposed
without the participation of the opposition parties. “We think the army should not get engaged in such an election.”
BNP international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman, assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony, Shamimur Rahman Shamim and Asadul Kabir
Shaheen were, among others, present. – UNB
Our Staff Reporter adds: Leaders of other political parties and organizations urged the government and the Election Commission (EC)
not to deploy army during the forthcoming elections scheduled to be held on January 5.
They made the urge a day after the Chief Election Commissioner announced that army would be deployed from December 26 to help the
administration to hold January 5 election peacefully.
The leaders however said the deployment of army would bring the army into confrontation with the people.
They also observed that the army deployment would be to legitimised the lopsided polls
Chairman of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), an ally of the 18-party opposition alliance, Abdul Latif Nezami and secretary general Mufti
Foyzullah in a statement said as part of government agenda, the EC wants to deploy army to justify the polls sans the opposition parties.
They questioned the prime minister as to why she is going to a hold a farcical election serving whose interest.
The IOJ leaders accused a section of media including Indian newspaper Ananda Bazar of provoking ongoing violence and trying to create clash
between the army and opposition.
“The lopsided election will not be acceptable at home and abroad. The resignation of the prime minister is the only solution to the
prevailing political stalemate and to hold a free and fair election,” said the statement.
President of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League Bangabair Kader Siddiqui, Bit Uttam, said the government should not move the army
personnel what he said the national resources, on the streets since the election would not get acceptance from any organization in the
globe.
He termed the 10th National Election as a meaningless poll and said no one is interested about it.
Chairman of National Democratic Party (NDP), also an ally of the opposition alliance, Khondoker Golam Mortuza urged the EC not to put
the people and the patriotic army face to face.
He accused the government of tarnishing the image and deputation of army by deploying them in the loop-sided election.
Dr Mia Abbas Uddin, secretary general of Probasi Bangladeshi Sohayak Parishad, in a statement called upon the government to refrain from
involving army personnel in the disputed election.
He hoped that the people would unitedly resist the lopsided election.
