FE Report
The BNP-led 20-party alliance has called upon the government as well as the Election Commission (EC) to hold free, fair and neutral polls in three city corporations.
BNP joint secretary general Barkatullah Bulu, in a press statement on Monday from an undisclosed place, also expressed hope that the government will make the upcoming city polls meaningful and acceptable by releasing all the detained leaders and activists of the opposition alliance.
Demanding return of missing party leader Salahuddin Ahmed, he said otherwise, EC will be proved once again that it is nothing but a toothless tiger.
"The nation will not accept and forgive the commission, if it lets the government manipulate the upcoming polls in Dhaka North, Dhaka
South and Chittagong City corporations." In the press release, the BNP leader also alleged that though EC has taken some strict measures, the electoral code of conduct is yet to be imposed.
"Rather, the Awami League-backed candidates are continuing their election campaign, violating the conduct. On the other hand, candidates from the opposition alliance are not given the minimum scope for campaigning despite following proper code of conduct."
Referring to the municipality polls in Faridpur and Chandpur, he claimed that free and fair elections cannot be held under the present government.
Meanwhile, the nationwide transport blockade, enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, entered 84th day on Monday amid first day of 48-hour new spell of hartal.
No procession or picketing was seen in support of the blockade in Dhaka. Presence of motorised vehicles was almost normal on the city roads. A large number of law-enforcers were deployed in different parts of the capital to fend off any trouble.
However, Jamaat-Shibir and BNP activists brought out processions in Narayanganj and Gazipur in support of the blockade.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia called for the indefinite transport blockade across the country on January 5 after having failed to come out of her Gulshan office to join a planned rally in the capital to mark 'Democracy Killing Day'.
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