Dhaka, Nov 30 – BNP on Saturday night demanded an investigation into the allegation of anomalies in appointing workforce to the Election Commission. At a meeting of BNP standing committee at its chairperson’s Gulshan office, the party also urged the government to form a commission to probe the allegation of repression on Bangladesh female workers abroad.
“The Election Commission is divided over its appointment process. The Chief Election Commissioner and the Commission Secretary are unilaterally appointing people and carrying out different activities that are against the Constitution,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, he also said, “We think an investigation is necessary into the corruption in the Election Commission. There’s a public perception that corruption is going on in the Commission. So, immediate steps should be taken to look into it.”
Fakhrul also renewed their party’s demand for resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner for what he said his ‘negative’ role in the 11th parliamentary elections.
About the repression on female migrant workers, he said Bangladeshi migrant workers, especially female ones, have long been subjected to inhuman torture and physical and psychological harassment abroad. “Even, they’re being killed.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government failed to play a due role to prevent the harassment and violence against the migrant workers. “We think it’s the government’s constitutional duty to ensure security of all the citizens. We call upon the government to form a commission to unearth the truth in this regard and take steps to resolve the prevailing problems.”
He regretted that though over a week has elapsed since they sent a letter to the Prime Minister seeking information about the bilateral documents signed with India in October last, they still did not get any response.
Under the circumstances, Fakhrul said, they will send a letter to the Foreign Ministry soon seeking information about the bilateral documents as per the Right to Information Act.
He said their standing committee hoped that the medical board of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University will submit a proper report on their party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s health condition before the Appellate Division on December 5 so that she gets justice.
At the meeting, the BNP leader said, they also discussed various issues relating to the soaring price hike, NRC and Rohingya crisis.
Fakhrul said their party will hold press conferences on essential price hike on December 3 and on India’s NRC on December 7.
Besides, they will arrange a seminar soon on ‘widespread’ corruption across the country.
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Selima Rahman were present. – UNB
