EC out to ensure ruling party’s victory: BNP

A BNP senior leader alleged on Wednesday the Election Commission is working to ensure that the ruling party becomes victorious in the upcoming general election, reports UNB.

"The Election Commission is resorting to various tricks and strategies as it probably wants to ensure the ruling party's victory, even before the election. They staged a dress rehearsal of it through revoking huge nomination papers during the scrutiny," he said.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city.

The BNP leader also said the EC only scrutinised the nomination papers of the BNP and Awami League's rebel and independent runners, not the ruling party's.

Rizvi also alleged returning officers declared valid the nomination papers of Awami League candidates as per a list provided by Prime Minister's adviser HT Imam without scrutinising those.

Rizvi said the EC is going to issue a notice asking the candidates to submit the lists of their polling agents before them. "It's part of a blueprint so that a new drive can be launched against our activists seeing the lists as we saw such a situation during the city polls."

The BNP leader said the Commission is taking all the steps in support of the ruling party while it has no move to ensure a level-playing field.

Speaking at the press conference, BNP vice chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed said the country is heading towards a 'farcical and dangerous' election under a partisan government and the Election Commission.

He said though the electioneering will start on December 10, their leaders and activists cannot go to their areas due to arrest and harassment by law enforcers.