The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has vehemently criticised the Election Commission (EC) for awarding registration to the Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF), a new political party which has triggered much controversy. The Election Commission registered the ‘not-so-well-known’ Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) on Monday, a move termed ‘controversial’ by the main opposition and many others.
The BNP also urged the commission to cancel the registration of the BNF immediately to remove any confusion over identities and ideologies between the BNP and the BNF.
BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the call at a press conference held at the party’s Naya Paltan central office in the capital on Tuesday.
Rizvi, also the office secretary of the party, assailed the EC for warding registration to the BNF and said the move was solely aimed at misleading people ahead of the upcoming parliamentary polls. The EC move was politically motivated, he added.
Alleging that the EC is loyal to the government, Rizvi said the EC officials including the Chief Election Commissioner should resign on moral ground.”
The BNP leader said that the incumbent EC, through its activities, has already lost the impartiality that the constitution demands. The commission has turned into an extension of the prime minister’s office, alleged Rizvi.
He said that the BNP on July 11 lodged complaints with the EC against the BNF. The EC was urged not to register the BNF as a political party. Rizvi warned that the EC will be taken to court for awarding registration to the BNF ahead of the national polls.
“Now, leaders of the BNF say that they will contest the upcoming parliamentary polls by giving nominations in all 300 constituencies. We, the nation, want to know whether the MP aspirants of the BNF will be selected by the premier or by the EC,” Rizvi said.
-With The Independent input
