BNP to guard centres to check vote rigging

BNP has decided to guard poll centres in Dhaka City Corporation in order to prevent 'ballot looting' and alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is acting at the government's dictate, report agencies.
Standing Committee Member and chief coordinator of BNP-backed Dhaka North mayor aspirant Mirza Abbas, ASM Hannan Shah, also dubbed 99 per cent poll centres as 'risky' at a press briefing on Friday.
"Ministers and MPs are trying to orchestrate a farcical poll for ruling party-backed candidates. They are attacking our workers, tearing our posters. The administration is arresting leaders and workers, interfering with our poll tasks," he added.
"The EC is not taking preventive steps. Should we, therefore, take it for granted that the EC has joined hands with the government to host a farcical poll?
"We will not let that happen. The voters are with us. We will guard the centres. We will stop anyone trying to loot ballots."
Expressing fears the votes might be rigged, he said, "We heard they would not allow our agents to work on poll day. They will keep the final tally of ruling party candidates blank during the counting so that they can put up any score they want."  
He also blasted law enforcers for not treating all candidates neutrally. "Campaigners of ruling party candidates are carrying handguns during campaigns. Police are not detaining them. They are only chasing opposition activists."
Meanwhile, voicing the party's disappointment over the role of the EC in the city polls, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed alleged that the statutory body is acting at the government's dictate.
"The EC's decision over deployment of army has made us disappointed. They're thinking to conduct the polls by RAB and police changing their decision of keeping army in patrol. We think the Commission has proved that it's working as per the government's will by retreating from its decision of deployment of army," he told reporters.
He came up with the remarks while carrying out electioneering at the National Press Club and Topkhana areas in favour of BNP-blessed mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation Mirza Abbas.
The BNP leader distributed leaflets among the pedestrians and sought votes from them for Abbas.
Moudud said the government is destroying the election environment by its aggressive and undemocratic attitude.