The BNP has complained about irregularities in the updated voter list. The current Election Commission, ‘loyal’ to the government was responsible for this, said BNP’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference on Thursday.
“There are 1.4 million fewer female voters compared to 2008. An audit by the Election Commission’s working group in January shows that 15 percent of the voters enrolled in the list were issued wrong ID numbers. A voter list with wrong IDs cannot be right,” said Rizvi, according to bdnews24.com.
Opposition BNP on Thursday also alleged that the way Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Zabed Ali responded to a recent remark of opposition leader Khaleda Zia was not only indecent but also serious misconduct and disrespect to a national leader.
“Zabed Ali responded in very offensive and ill manner to the recent call of Desh Netri Khaleda Zia to the Election Commission to stand on its on feet with a straight backbone,” said BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Addressing a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said, “As a high official of a constitutional body, he (Zabed) not only disregarded the neutrality but also set a heinous example in the Election Commission’s history.”
On Monday, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia addressing a public rally in Rajshahi termed the incumbent EC spineless and worthless, and called it to stand on its own feet with straight backbone. Shrugging off the opposition leader’s remarks, Zabed Ali talking to reporters on Wednesday said they are quite strong and their spines are straight.
Referring to media report, Rizvi said as the reporters sought his comment about Khaleda’s remarks, Zabed Ali in a disrespectful gesture stood up holding his cellphone in his hands and said, “See we’re quite fit and our backbones are straight. I’m 63 years old, yet my spine is straight.”
Reacting to the Election Commissioner’s remarks, the BNP leader said the comments, action and gesture of Zabed have proved that the observation of Khaleda about the EC are not only appropriate but also true in all aspects. Rizvi was also critical of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for suggesting Khaleda to consult an ophthalmologist and said people can come up with a demand to put the ruling party leaders under ECG or City Scan to detect whether they are suffering from mental disorder as they are making unguarded remarks regularly.
On Wednesday, responding to a supplementary from Sirajul Akbar (Magura-1) in parliament, the Prime Minister said the opposition leader do not see any development in the power sector, which is unfortunate for the nation. “If she (Khaleda) doesn’t see any development what can I suggest her except consulting an ophthalmologist?” – UNB
