Bhola-3 polls: BNP team meets CEC, seeks army deployment
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
A four-member delegation of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by MK Anwar MP met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda Monday, seeking deployment of the army during the upcoming Bhola-3 by-election, reports UNB.
After their meeting with the CEC MK Anwar told the journalists that they were concerned whether a free and fair election can take place, and demanded that the army be deployed to ensure a fair and peaceful poll.
The veteran BNP leader alleged that the police and RAB had prepared a list of local BNP leaders and workers in the constituency, and resorted to harassing them as the by-election approaches.
The BNP leader was adamant that foreign observers, or at least observers from outside Bhola-3 with no political affiliation in the constituency be deployed to observe the elections.
The delegation also included Nazrul Islam Khan, Maj (retd) Hafizuddin and Rizvi Ahmed.
Replying to a question, Election Commissioner (EC) M Sohul Hussain said that the commission would take all necessary measures to ensure a free, fair and neutral election.
Revealing that the EC was in general against army deployment, he said the BNP delegation had demanded it for the by-election, the EC would see what can be done.
"Now the commission will think what can be done in this regard," he added.
The CEC, however, said the commission would consider the BNP's demands over deployment of election observers from outside the constituency.
After their meeting with the CEC MK Anwar told the journalists that they were concerned whether a free and fair election can take place, and demanded that the army be deployed to ensure a fair and peaceful poll.
The veteran BNP leader alleged that the police and RAB had prepared a list of local BNP leaders and workers in the constituency, and resorted to harassing them as the by-election approaches.
The BNP leader was adamant that foreign observers, or at least observers from outside Bhola-3 with no political affiliation in the constituency be deployed to observe the elections.
The delegation also included Nazrul Islam Khan, Maj (retd) Hafizuddin and Rizvi Ahmed.
Replying to a question, Election Commissioner (EC) M Sohul Hussain said that the commission would take all necessary measures to ensure a free, fair and neutral election.
Revealing that the EC was in general against army deployment, he said the BNP delegation had demanded it for the by-election, the EC would see what can be done.
"Now the commission will think what can be done in this regard," he added.
The CEC, however, said the commission would consider the BNP's demands over deployment of election observers from outside the constituency.