The BNP has expressed deep concern over the possible uncontested victory of a good number of MPs in the polls, scheduled for January 5, and said the victory will be self-destructive for democracy and the upcoming general election. All MP aspirants of Awami League-led Grand Alliance have already been elected uncontested in the January 5 parliamentary election. It will be self-destructive for the country’s democracy and next general election, if they are set to be elected uncontested, BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said.
Khan, also a standing committee member of the party, came up with the remark, while addressing a press briefing held at party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office in the capital, on Saturday afternoon.
Referring to reports published in different media outlets, Khan said a total of 142 MP aspirants are set to be elected uncontested in the January 5 parliamentary election.
Several MP aspirants from Jatiya Party, which was a key component of Awami League-led Grand Alliance, have already been elected, without polling, though the party boycotted the 10th parliamentary poll, Khan said.
Terming the victory of the MP aspirants as unbelievable and rare instance, Khan said a drama is being staged by the government, in the name of election.
Describing the Election Commission (EC) as loyal, he said the EC is going to stage a drama in the name of election, in line with the directives of a person. The country is burning with the flame of protest as the EC has announced the schedule for the 10th parliamentary poll amid unresolved political crisis.
Urging the government to refrain from unilateral poll, he said the government does not want to hold an inclusive and acceptable general poll and, so, it has announced a war against people of the country.
He criticised the EC for its partisan activities and said the Chief Election Commission (CEC) has been saying that the announced poll schedule is likely to be deferred, if the two major political parties reach an understanding.
The CEC has announced poll schedule hurriedly with the pretext of the Constitution, without waiting for a mutual compromise between the country’s two political parties over the head of the poll-time administration, he alleged.
Mass agitation is going on across the country and the government, as well as the EC is held responsible for this, he said.
“We are engaged in an anti-government movement, to mount pressure on the government, to fulfil demand for election under a non-party poll-time administration. Our anti-government campaign will gain momentum, and the ruling Awami League will be forced to surrender before the people,” he warned.
When asked about the hartal called by BNP’s political ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on Sunday, the BNP leader said this is their own programme.
Meanwhile, The main opposition BNP on Saturday claimed that at least 300 of its leaders and activists went missing in November in drives carried out by law enforcing agencies.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan disclosed this at a press conference held at the party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office on Saturday.
“RAB and plain clothes intelligence men are engaged in arresting without showing any reason. They crackdown on the opposition party men and raid their houses,” he alleged.
Family members have reported at least 300 opposition party men missing after they were picked up by the law enforces, Khan said.
Criticising activities of the elite forces RAB, the BNP leader said RAB was formed in 2001 for curbing terrorism and maintaining law and order at that time. The elite force had then gained people’s confidence by proving their efficiency and activities, he said.
“But now-a-days, the rung Awami League has let loose the elite force to commit crimes like killing and abduction transforming them into forces like Rakkhi Bahini, which was formed by Awami League after independence to vanish its political opponent from the country,” he blamed.
-With The Independent input
