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20-party alliance for withdrawal of controversial DCs, SPs from poll duty

FE Report | November 26, 2018 00:00:00


The BNP-led 20-party alliance placed a 13-point demand to the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday, including temporary withdrawal of controversial deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) from their election duties.

Other demands of the alliance include reshuffling other DCs and SPs from one district to another ahead of the 11th national polls scheduled to be held on December 30.

A 20-party alliance delegation led by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed briefed newsmen about the demands after a meeting with election commissioner Rafiqul Islam at the EC in the city's Agargaon.

He said, "Many of the government officials, especially DCs and SPs, have developed good relations with ministers and parliament members. There are suspicions that they might influence the election process."

That's why the 20-paty alliance has demanded of the EC to temporarily withdraw or transfer such government officials, he added.

Mr Oli said everyone is saying that the commission will hold a free and fair election but the activities of the EC have not yet supported that claim.

"Law enforcement agencies have been continuing arrest of BNP leaders and raiding their houses to spread panic among them," he said.

The commission might have instructed the police not to carry out suppressive acts on political parties but there is no sign of the action yet.

"We requested the EC not to arrest anyone based on the ghost cases filed against BNP leaders till at least December 30," he told the reporters.

"Otherwise we will think that the commission is not working neutrally," he added.

Responding to a question from the journalists about electoral environment, he said, "No visible congenial environment has so far been visible for holding a fair election."

The 20-party alliance delegation comprising 23 members placed the demands to the EC at the meeting.

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and Bangladesh Kallyan Party chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim were also present on the occasion.

Earlier on the day, BNP raised a complaint with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda that police continue arresting their leaders and activists across the country.

BNP vice chairman Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed Bir Brikram told reporters about the complaint after submitting it to the CEC at his office.

"The countrywide arrest continues against BNP leaders and activists as police have been carrying out their arrest business."

Mr Hafiz mentioned that BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir sent him to the commission to lodge the complaint.

In response to a query, the BNP leader said the CEC assured them of taking measures over the cases filed after the announcement of the election schedule.

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