Claiming that at least 113 people were killed and nearly 10,000 others injured in Union Parishad polls violence, BNP on Saturday said the current regime and the Election Commission will be held responsible for it and also for ‘massive irregularities’.
“The Election Commission is not independent because it’s working at the behest of the government. Had the Commission been independent, the huge polls violence could have been checked,” said BNP vice chairman Selima Rahman. Dhaka, UNB News Agency Reported.
She came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.A BNP delegation, led by Selima Rahman, met the CEC at his office to register their various complaints about irregularities in the sixth phase of the Union Parishad (UP) polls.
Selima Rahman said the ruling party men with the help of the Election Commission and police captured most polling stations and resorted to vote frauds.
Though they lodged many complaints with EC in every phase of the UP polls, she alleged that the Commission did not take any step regarding those. “The CEC each time assured us of taking measures and improving the atmosphere. In practice, the irregularities and violence marked a rise.”
She said the UP polls again manifested that a neutral government is necessary to hold a credible and meaningful election in the country.Replying to a question whether their party will join any election under the current regime, the BNP leader said, “It’ll decide our party policymakers. But, my personal view is that no fair election is possible under it.”
