BNP wants army deployment in Gazipur, Khulna city polls

Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday demanded deployment of army in the upcoming mayoral election to the Gazipur and Khulna cities to ensure that the voters can exercise their franchise without fear.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a news briefing at the party’s central office made the demand for ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections.
He said the law enforcement agencies now working as the ‘partisan’ force of the government.
‘So it is not possible for them to ensure an atmosphere for a fair, neutral election,’ he said claiming that the voters could not keep trust on them.
Rizvi also demanded measures to ensure equal scope and opportunity for the contestants, stop using EVM and stop arrest of leaders and activists of BNP.
The mayoral elections to the cities are scheduled for May 15.
Rizvi said presently there was no level playing field in the two cities, saying ‘Awami goons’ were making armed rehearsal in the two cities.
Rizvi said the ruling party leaders and activists were holding meeting,  processions and rallies in Gazipur and Khulna cities over the polls whereas leaders and activists of BNP were either   languishing  in jail or walking on balconies of courts.
Referring to the chief election commissioner’s statement made on Saturday that election did not get well if all political parties did not participate, the BNP leader said it was the responsibility of the CEC to create fair election atmosphere to bring all parties in the polls by exercising power bestowed on him by the Constitution. 
Asking the CEC to play courageous role, the BNP leader said ‘if necessary’ the CEC should ‘resign’ in protest at the ‘unjust pressure’ of the government. 
People of the country and international community would stand beside him, Rizvi said. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net