Terming BNF an invisible party of darkness, opposition BNP on Tuesday demanded immediate cancellation of its registration as a political party. “The people of the country are not aware of any existence of the baseless organisation BNF. As part of dirty politics, the BNF has been given registration to confuse people as it sounds like BNP,” BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told UNB. Addressing a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, the BNP leader described the Election Commission (EC) as the government’s puppet body and demanded resignation of the Election Commissioners. On Monday, the EC awarded registration to the much controversial new political party Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF). EC senior assistant secretary Mesbauddin Ahmed handed over the registration certificate to BNF chief coordinator Abul Kalam Azad at the EC office. Talking to reporters, Abul Kalam Azad said BNF will participate in the next national election. BNP has been opposing the registration of BNF as it applied to the EC for getting registered using BNP’s logo, Ziaur Rahman’s portrait and his 19-point programme and sheaf of wheat as election symbol which looks like BNP’s symbol sheaf of paddy. Earlier, BNP delegations lodged complaints with the EC against BNF several times and urged it not give it registration as a political party. But the EC made its role controversial and invited resentment from BNP giving BNF three times to fulfill registration requirements. Addressing the briefing, Rizvi said the BNF has no ability to meet the conditions necessary for getting resignation as a political party. He alleged that the current EC marred the neutrality of the constitutional body by its controversial activities. Mentioning that the EC is working as the PMO’s extended office, Rizvi said the commission is going to hold unilateral polls at the behest of the government. – UNB
