As part of its changed movement strategy, the opposition BNP has shifted its focus to the city corporation elections as the party considers the polls as an acid test both for the government and the Election Commission ahead of the general elections.BNP leaders said though they have reservation about the current Election Commission, it has indirectly joined the city polls allowing its leaders to contest it as they have good prospects to come out winners.
They, however, warned that the opposition, which has long been on a movement mainly demanding the restoration of the caretaker government system, will add the issues of reconstituting the EC to their movement if it fails to hold the city polls in a credible manner.
“We’ve allowed the BNP leaders to participate in the city corporation polls as part of our movement strategy. As BNP is a pro-election party, we’re on a movement for the restoration of the non-party caretaker government system to ensure a fair election with the participation of all. So, we’re always election-oriented party,” BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told UNB on Monday.
Mentioning that the city corporation polls are non-partisan ones, he said though there is no scope for political parties to directly nominate any candidates in the local body polls, their party leaders are engaged in polls campaign in favour of some BNP leaders who are contesting the elections relinquishing their party position as per the tradition.
Explaining how the city polls could be the part their movement, the former minister said, “If people can freely exercise their voting rights our party-backed candidates will win all the city polls which will eventfully strengthen our movement by boosting our confidence and vigor. If the government snatches people’s verdict through rigging, it’ll only justify our demand for restoration of the caretaker system and intensify our movement.”
The BNP leader said his party thinks the city polls are an acid test and a big challenge for the government and the EC.
“If the ruling party-backed candies lose the polls, it’ll have a negative impact on the general election for it. And if they resort to any unfair means, their real colour will get exposed before people. It’s also a test case for the EC to prove how much it is independent and acceptable, and its ability to hold a free and fair election.”
He said the opposition is likely to include reconstitution of the EC in their movement issue if the Commission fails to prove its neutrality and ability to hold free, fair and credible polls.
Another BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam who is monitoring the opposition-baked candidate’s electioneering in Rajshahi city said they now concentrate on the city polls as part of their movement strategy to justify their demand for restoration of the caretaker government system.
He said if the government and the EC play any ‘dirty game’ over the polls it will help intensify their ongoing movement for arranging the next polls under a non-party interim administration.
Airing his doubt over the government’s intention to hold a fair election, the BNP leader said the consequence will not be good if the government tries to resort to any unfair means to change people’s verdict.
BNP chairperson’s adviser and party spokesman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said the schedules for the four city polls have been announced in a bid to push the opposition backward and weaken its movement.
“The government thought BNP won’t allow its leaders to contest the polls and thus they will win the four city corporation polls without challenge. But now the government has caught up in its own game as the BNP-backed candidates are contesting the polls,” he said.
Mentioning that their main target is to force the government to restore the non-party caretaker system, Dudu said the city polls will determine their next course of action to realise their demands. (Source: UNB)
