Convener of pro-BNP platform 'Shoto Nagorik Committee' Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said on Saturday creating a congenial atmosphere is essential for making the upcoming city polls credible, reports UNB.
"It's essential to create an environment to make the city polls credible. An environment for taking out processions, holding rallies and meetings is indispensable to this end," he said while addressing a discussion on 'Independence and Shaheed Zia: Present Perspective,' organised by Zia Sangskritik Sangathan at the National Press Club in the city.
Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad acting convener Ruhul Amin Gazi also spoke at the discussion presided over by Zia Sangskritik Sangathan chairman Abul Hasem Rana. Prof Emajuddin, also a former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor, said people would not accept the city elections if those are not held in a free and fair manner.
"If the city elections become questionable like that of the January 5 one, people won't tolerate that. The elections would have to be acceptable to all-both at home and abroad," he added.
Prof Emajuddin said the EC has yet to take any step responding to their suggestion for holding the three city corporation elections - Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation-in a free and fair manner.
"Of behalf of the Shoto Nagorik Committee, We've placed some suggestions to the Election Commission, but the EC is yet to take any step," he said.
The government has still kept BNP's Nayapaltan central office under lock and key. "The situation in BNP chairperson's Gulshan political office is yet to be made normal as police kept it cordoned off."
Prof Emajuddin hoped that the EC will think afresh to create a level-playing field for all candidates in the city polls slated for April 28.
On Wednesday, a six-member delegation of pro-BNP professionals, led by Prof Emajuddin under the banner of Shoto Nagorik Committee met CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed and placed a six-point suggestion, including creating a level-playing field in the three corporation elections and taking steps to open the offices of all political parties.
