Hafiz urges EC to deploy army during Bhola-3 by-poll
Saturday, 20 March 2010
BNP vice chairman Maj (rtd) Hafizuddin Ahmed Friday urged the Election Commission (EC) to deploy the army for the Bhola-3 parliamentary constituency by-poll, reports UNB.
Mr Hafiz deems army deployment necessary to ensure the election is free and fair, and also in providing a secure atmosphere for the vacated Barisal division constituency that represents a chance for the BNP to gain one seat on the government's overwhelming majority in parliament.
He also demanded that international observers be invited to monitor the contest, which is scheduled to be held on April 24.
Mr Hafiz, who lost the seat in the last general polls in December 2008, made these demands during a press conference at his Dhaka residence Friday.
According to the former minister, ruling party cadres and goons have stoked a situation of panic in the constituency ahead of the election.
Welcoming the by-poll schedule, Hafiz expressed his confidence in the EC. "If the EC fulfills its role properly, the ruling party's ill-attempts will not succeed," he said.
He also said he hopes that the EC will take appropriate punitive action against the local administration in the constituency, if they are found to be playing a biased role to influence the polls.
On February 3, the EC declared the Bhola-3 parliamentary constituency, which covers the Lalmohan and Tajumuddin upazilas, vacant following a Supreme Court verdict.
The Awami League's Maj (retd) Jasim Uddin was elected from this constituency in the December 2008 polls. But the Supreme Court later declared his candidacy illegal, as he had contested the polls without five years of his retirement from public service having elapsed.
According to the final voter list published by the EC Monday, there are a total of 234,969 registered voters in the constituency.
Mr Hafiz deems army deployment necessary to ensure the election is free and fair, and also in providing a secure atmosphere for the vacated Barisal division constituency that represents a chance for the BNP to gain one seat on the government's overwhelming majority in parliament.
He also demanded that international observers be invited to monitor the contest, which is scheduled to be held on April 24.
Mr Hafiz, who lost the seat in the last general polls in December 2008, made these demands during a press conference at his Dhaka residence Friday.
According to the former minister, ruling party cadres and goons have stoked a situation of panic in the constituency ahead of the election.
Welcoming the by-poll schedule, Hafiz expressed his confidence in the EC. "If the EC fulfills its role properly, the ruling party's ill-attempts will not succeed," he said.
He also said he hopes that the EC will take appropriate punitive action against the local administration in the constituency, if they are found to be playing a biased role to influence the polls.
On February 3, the EC declared the Bhola-3 parliamentary constituency, which covers the Lalmohan and Tajumuddin upazilas, vacant following a Supreme Court verdict.
The Awami League's Maj (retd) Jasim Uddin was elected from this constituency in the December 2008 polls. But the Supreme Court later declared his candidacy illegal, as he had contested the polls without five years of his retirement from public service having elapsed.
According to the final voter list published by the EC Monday, there are a total of 234,969 registered voters in the constituency.