Dhaka, Dec 22 – The Awami League on Saturday demanded that the Election Commission should not reschedule the election in the seats where BNP candidates have been declared ineligible by the court. It also expressed deep concern over ‘attacks’ on its election campaign in various parts of the country as well as a minority family in Thakurgaon district and demanded that the Commission take strict measures for smoothly holding the upcoming national election.
The ruling party made the demands in separate letters submitted to the Commission.
Talking to reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban after handing over the letters, AL central leader Akhtaruzzaman said they opposed BNP’s demand to either give them a scope of fielding alternative candidates or reschedule the election in the seats where its candidates have been declared disqualified by the court. “There’s no way for rescheduling the election under the existing Representation of the People Order (RPO),” he said.
He said the candidature of several BNP candidates was cancelled following the Supreme Court’s directive. “But the apex court didn’t also say anything about rescheduling the election.”
The ruling party leader said the EC officials assured them of examining the law before taking any decision in this regard.
He alleged that attacks were carried out on the election campaigns of AL general secretary Obaidul Quader in Noakhali and former state minister Dr Afsarul Amin in Chattogram and police in Muktagachha of Mymensingh on Friday.
Besides, a Hindu family came under attack on Friday night in Thakurgaon, Akhtaruzzaman said.
Referring to BNP and its allies, the ruling party leader alleged that a vested quarter which wants to make the upcoming national election questionable is involved in the attacks. “We condemned the attacks and hope that the EC will take strict measures so that the national election is held smoothly,” he added. – UNB
