The four-party alliance Friday rejected the election schedule of four city corporations and nine municipalities announced by the Election Commission, report UNB/bdnews24.com.
On behalf of the alliance, BNP's Acting Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed said the Election Commission's announcement of the election schedule was devoid of its constitutional mandate.
'The Chief Election Commissioner cannot announce the schedule this
way,' Rizvi told the UNB by phone. 'This announcement is unconstitutional and illegal.'
He said announcement of the schedule was part of a well-designed conspiracy. 'The people won't accept it,' he said.
BNP and its three allies had already announced a protest programme to be held on June 30 in opposition to the EC's move to hold the local government polls before the national election.
At a meeting of the four-party alliance Friday, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said protest programmes would continue.
Awami League also demanded withdrawal of the local polls schedule, terming it 'a farce' and 'a conspiracy.'
On the other hand, reformist BNP leader Hafizuddin Ahmed favoured the plan.
'It's better holding the local body voting before national polls since the EC has enough time,' he said.
Earlier, just hours before the Election Commission's (EC) announcement of the election schedule, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain warned against holding the local government polls before the national election.
Delwar said the government and the EC would be responsible for any unexpected situation in the country in the wake of the announcement of local government polls schedule.
