The National Citizen Party (NCP) has demanded the parliamentary elections and the referendum be held on the scheduled date without any postponement, reports bdnews24.com.
NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary spoke about it on Wednesday after meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon.
"An event is scheduled to take place in the country on Wednesday, and another party has announced a rally on Jan 3. The trial process over Sharif Osman bin Hadi's murder has yet to be completed," Patwary said.
"Considering the unstable situation in the country, we have asked the Election Commission (EC) to ensure the polls are held on the announced date of Feb 12. We also inquired about the steps the EC has taken in this regard," he added.
Patwary said the EC had informed them that it consulted the three service chiefs.
"They have the capability and want to organise the election on Feb 12," he added.
Patwary continued, "The Awami League is trying to postpone it through different means, including destabilising India and Bangladesh. The EC explained the steps it has taken regarding these concerns."
The NCP leader also highlighted complications in expatriate voter registration and inadequate campaigning for the referendum.
NCP Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa said the meeting with the chief election commissioner covered five main issues: the overall law-and-order situation related to the electoral system, compliance with the code of conduct for candidates and parties, measures for violations, expatriate voter registration, and the overall voting environment, including the referendum.
The party appreciated efforts by candidates, parties, and the administration to remove advance campaign materials after the official schedule was announced.
"However, candidates from major parties still put up posters, and many new ones appeared in several places. We raised this with the commission, which has taken the matter seriously," Musa said.
He added that the NCP had requested fines and other punishments be enforced, and that the issue be made public.
The party also proposed a hotline or similar measure to enable immediate action on reported code-of-conduct violations.
