Dhaka, Dec 4 – Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Tuesday alleged that the government wants to cling to power by holding a blueprint election claiming that there is no level playing field in the country though the poll is approaching.“The government is going forward with its blueprint to hold a lopsided election keeping the opposition under tremendous pressure and the Election Commission is assisting the government to implement its design,” said at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
The Nagorik Oikya leader expressed his doubt whether the forthcoming election would be an acceptable one.
A participatory is election is being held in the country after about 10 years. But there is strong doubt whether the election would be acceptable at all. The apprehension is being increased everyday at the attitude of the government and the EC, he observed.
Manna further alleged that as part of its blueprint the government has been arresting innumerable people and many of them are being the victims of enforced disappearance filing false and fictitious cases
against opposition leaders and activists.
He called upon the police administration to immediately stop the harassing of opposition leaders and activists saying that they have to take the responsibility if holding a fair election is disrupted and a
social chaos is created for their partial attitude.
Manna, who is a top leader of the opposition alliance-Jatiya Oikyafront and taking part in the December 30 general elections from the Bogura-2 constituency, further alleged that false cases were filed against many opposition leaders including Shibganj pourasabha mayor Motiar Rahman Motin and more than 100 opposition leaders and activists were arrested ahead of the elections.
He demanded an immediate release of the arrested opposition leaders and activists and withdrawal of false cases against them.
Local BNP leaders Shah Alam, Motiur Rahman, Abdul Baset and Nagorik Oikya leaders Advocate Fazlul Haque, Shahidullah Kaiser, Monirul Alam and MOfakkharul Islam, among others, were present at the press conference. – Staff Reporter
