BNP leaders want to observe by-polls

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Opposition BNP has sought the Election Commission's permission to its senior leaders for observing the Bhola-3 by-election scheduled for Saturday, reports UNB.
A BNP delegation led by its senior joint secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on Election Commissioners M Suhol Hussain and M Sakhawat Hossain at the Election Commission secretariat Wednesday afternoon.
The BNP delegation handed over letter to the commissioners demanding that a 20-member team comprising MPs and senior leaders would visit the Bhola-3 constituency to observe the polling.
The Election Commis-sioners assured of considering the demand, said a member of the delegation.
Another report from Bhola adds: BNP candidate Hafizuddin Ahmed demanded deferring the Saturday's polls by seven days.
Addressing a hurriedly called press conference at his residence at 4:00pm Wednesday, he said deferring the polls was essential to create a congenial atmosphere for voting by recovery of all fire arms and expelling outsiders from the constituency. Terrorists have also to be rounded up before holding the polls, he added.