Dhaka, May 6 – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the government has got the Gazipur City Corporation election stayed by the court resorting to tricks sensing the sure defeat of the ruling party mayoral candidate.He came up with the allegation at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
“The government could realise the debacle of its candidate. That’s why they’ve got a writ filed by their party man, and stayed the Gazipur city polls,” the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul said Savar upazila Awami League labour and manpower affairs secretary ABM Azharul Islam filed the writ with the High Court “at the behest of the government. This incident has once again exposed that the government has got totally isolated from people.”
Earlier in the day, the High Court stayed the Gazipur City Corporation election scheduled to be held on May 15.
An HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order following a hearing on the writ petition.
The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the inclusion of six moujas of Dhaka district into GCC should not be declared illegal.
Fakhrul said BNP considers the stay order on the Gazipur polls as a victory of the party. “The government was forced to stop the polls to avoid its sure defeat.”
He strongly condemned and protested the arrest of party vice chairman Abdullah Al Noman and other party leaders and activists at Tongi, Gazipur.
The BNP secretary general demanded the government immediately release those were arrested, including Noman.
He said the government is getting the election stayed as it suffers from an ‘election phobia’.
Fakhrul also criticised the Election Commission, saying it is not playing an impartial role. “Our senior leader Moudud Ahmed has already demanded that the Commission be reconstituted.”
He said the EC has failed to take proper steps for holding fair and credible polls. “So, we’re also worried about the national election.”
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury were present. – UNB
