BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain alleged on Monday the government is conspiring to snatch his party's victory by rigging votes in Khulna City Corporation (KCC) polls scheduled for today (Tuesday), reports UNB.
"A tense situation is prevailing in Khulna city. Voters are in doubt whether they'll be able to go to the polling stations as the entire city has turned appalling," he said.
The BNP leader made the comments while speaking at a discussion organised by Desnetri Mukti Parishad at the National Press Club in the city, demanding immediate release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Swechchhasebak Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu from jail.
He further said, "Our polling agents are being intimidated. Even, presiding officers are being threatened. The government together with the local administration, police and those involved in voting process are plotting to rig votes."
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, claimed his party mayoral candidate Nazrul Islam Monju will be elected with a big margin if a fair election is held.
"We believe no one will be able to resist BNP's victory if people can cast their votes," he added.
He said police arrested his party's many probable agents while law enforcers asked many others not to go to polling stations.
"The ruling party together with the administration and police is working to thwart BNP's victory."
The BNP leader criticised the government for making delay in issuing a gazette notification on job quota abolishment in public services as per the Prime Minister's announcement.
Earlier at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged an 'undeclared curfew' has been enforced for BNP leaders and activists and common voters in Khulna while the ruling party men are in a festive mood in an empty field.
He said the Election Commission having failed to ensure a proper election atmosphere has turned Khulna into an awful city with the help of Awami League 'cadres' and law enforcers.
The BNP leader also alleged police and the ruling party men are terrorising people so that they do not go to polling stations.
He said a syndicate of ruling party-backed businessmen is making a windfall profit by hiking the prices of essentials ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
The BNP leader said the prices of all the necessary items, including onion, garlic, sugar, green chili, brinjal, potato, turmeric, ginger, tomato, cucumber, have marked a rise by Tk 10-50 each kg.
