President of Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) Bangabir Kader Siddiqui said on Saturday that the ruling Awami League might defer the city corporation elections, if BNP takes part in it.
"Awami League will not hold elections. Rather, it will be deferred," he told the journalists on the 53rd day of his sit-in programme in front of the party office at Motijheel in the capital on the day.
He has been observing the sit-in since January 28 demanding holding a dialogue between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
Terming the announcement of the polls in city corporations as giving lollipops to children, he said: "On one side there is the blockade and on the other side5 is police firing. When the countrymen are crying, the announcement of Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls is just like offering lollipops to the children"
He said: "This election is just like mockery with the people. No election could be held under the subservient Election Commission. If the opposition takes part in the elections taking it as a challenge, then the defeat of the ruling party is inevitable".
"Bangabandhu had tried throughout his life for elections free of influence whereas the Prime Minister being daughter of Bangabandhu declares the party candidate. It is unconstitutional," he said.
"If there is real election, then the ruling party candidates will lose their deposit money," he said.
He said that the government might seek to withhold city corporation polls, if opposition candidates join in, as there is no chance for the ruling party candidates to win the polls by public votes.
Addressing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, he said: "You (Hasina and Begum Zia) both have one weapon to appease the people that is 'dialogue'. People of the country would have got much pleasure if the Bangladesh had won the quarter-final cricket match".
He called upon Begum Zia to withdraw hartal and blockade right now.
He said that Bangladesh was forcefully defeated in the ICC quarterfinal match with India.
Joint Secretary General of the KSJL Iqbal Siddique, its organising secretary Shafiqul Islam Delwar and central committee member Farid Ahmed, among others, were present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
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