“The ruling party men are violating the election code of conduct every day, but the toothless and clawless Election Commission is not taking any action. It’s implementing the government agenda to ensure Awami League-backed candidate’s victory,” BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed has said.
Moudud was addressing a meeting arranged by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Manabadhikar Forum at the Jatiya Press Club demanding restoration of the caretaker government and the release of Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman.
Accusing the government of influencing the Gazipur election, the BNP leader said it is getting clear with the passage of time that a free and fare national election is not possible under the current regime.
He was also critical of NBR authorities for confiscating BNP-backed GCC mayoral runner MA Mannan’s bank account, and said it has done this at the behest of the government to influence the polls.
“Had the Election Commission been neutral, it would have summoned the NBR chairman for such action just two days before the election,” the BNP leader added.
He said people through the four city corporations’ polls have sent out a message to the government that they do not want to see it in power,
Moudud alleged that the government is trying to hold the next polls under its own administration to return to power by suing muscle power. “The next election must be held under a non-party caretaker government. There’s no alternative to it.”
BNP chairperson’s adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Jubo Dal president Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, among others, spoke at the programme. – UNB
