Dhaka, Oct 20 – BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that the current Election Commission (EC) has been working as an ‘associate organisation’ of the government and the ruling party for implementing their agenda.
“The recently held polls have proved once again that fair and credible elections cannot take place under the current Election Commission as it is fully working on implementing the agenda of the government and Awami League like an associate body of them,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while exchanging views with journalists at his local residence.
Fakhrul said Awami League has initiated a process of destroying the country’s electoral system by holding a lopsided national election in 2014 where 154 MPs elected uncontested.
“This process has now been intensified by completely destroying the electoral system of Bangladesh. There’s now almost no voter turnout at voting centres as voters lost their interest in voting, including that of local body polls. The Election Commission and the government are responsible for it,” he observed.
The BNP leader said nine Upazilas and 42 union parishads went to elections on Tuesday, but the voting was held everywhere in a similar fashion amid various irregularities without the presence of voters. “The bye-elections to in Dhaka’s Jatrabari, Naogaon-6 and Pabna-4 were also held in the same manner.”
He said the Election Commission prepares results as per their wish in every election as voters do not go to polling stations to cast their votes. “This has now become the country’s election system.”
Fakhrul said their party has been participating in the elections amid such a situation as it believes the change in power can happen only through balloting. “As a liberal democratic party, we’re joining the polls though there’s no election atmosphere in the country.”
Though 10 percent voter turnout was officially shown in Dhaka-5 polls on Saturday, he said it was actually less than five percent. “Interestingly, the Chief Election Commissioner said the election was free and fair. “It’s nothing, but a farce.”
The BNP leader said a credible election will not be held in the country until an election-time neutral government is installed and the Election Commission is not reconstituted with impartial persons. – UNB
