Dhaka – BNP in a letter to the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday raised an objection to holding the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) polls along the party line.
In the letter, the party said it thinks the election along party line in the UP polls may damage social bonds at the grassroots level. “Political violence and conflict may spread to families, villages and localities following such polls.”
However, the party leaders said they will take part in the polls even if the EC does not change its decision.
A four-member BNP delegation, led by party’s joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, met EC secretary Sirajul Islam around 1:15pm and handed over the letter.
During the meeting, the party also urged the Election Commission to hold the local body polls in a free, fair and impartial manner.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Rizvi said holding UP polls under party banner is illogical. “It’ll create a disorder in society.”
He said though their party fears that the UP polls will be held unilaterally like other local body polls held in the past, BNP is going to join it for the sake of democracy.
Earlier, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir talking to reporters at BNP’s Nayapaltan office said they have sent a letter to the EC voicing their objection to the UP polls under party banner. “It won’t help flourish democracy. Instead, it’ll affect the social bonds.”
He said the EC has decided to hold the polls along party line only to help the ruling party stay in office. “In all, we’ve seen in the local body polls held earlier the EC did everything to ensure the victories of the candidates of a particular party.”
Under the circumstances, he said, BNP is participating in the polls as part of its movement to restore democracy and ensure change in power through polls. “Knowing that the election won’t be fair, we’re joining it.”
He said the government is trying to cement one-party rule in the country by establishing its control over all the institutions. “The consequence of it won’t be good.”
The Election Commission has a plan to hold the upcoming countrywide Union Parishad polls in 6-7 phases starting in March next under party line.
On Thursday, the EC announced that the first phase of elections to 752 UPs will be held on March 22.- UNB
