Bnp’s concern at EC’s enlistment of 15-17 age cohort voters

BNP yesterday expressed concern over Election Commission’s decision to enlist new voter in the age group between 15-17 years old while updating the country’s voter lists.
“The commission might have an ill motive behind the initiative to enlist youths in the age group from 15 to 17 years in violation of the law,” said BNP spokesperson Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon while addressing a press conference at party headquarters in the city.The BNP leader said also apprehended that there might be an evil design to help government in manipulating the local government election in future.
He said according to constitution there is no scope to enlist youth in the age group of 15 to 17 in the voter lists.
The commission has taken the initiative keeping in mind the Union Parisahd and Poursahba polls to be held later this year, he claimed.
Terming the commission as loyal, notorious, he observed the Chief Election Commissioner and his associate commissioners should resign voluntarily as they are involved in anti-constitutional activities.
Ripon, also international affairs secretary of BNP, said though updating voter list a routine work of commission but it failed to properly update it also in the past.
He also expressed concern over decreasing of woman voters following 2008.
“According to a study carried out by International Foundation for Electoral System the voter number in 2008 was 81000,058. The number of female voter was more than male voters which is 1413,600. But it is a matter of concern that the number of female voters is decreasing after that,” he said.
Ripon alleged that the commission is not interested to collect information of intending female voters.
He also criticized the commission not to investigate into the vote rigging and incidents of violence took place during the city corporation polls.
It leaves strong doubt whether any opposition party would take part in the local government polls under this commission, he added. – Staff Reporter