BNP demands reconstitution of EC
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday demanded the constitution of a new election commission with “competent persons”, saying that today's commission is “worse even than an obedient salve”.
“The incumbent election commission is worse even than an obedient salve. Even prior to the government makes any remark, they (EC) say the election happened in an excellent and fair manner where Awami League candidates win,” he said while addressing a rally in the city.
BNP’s Dhaka City North Unit arranged the rally making a makeshift stage on two trucks before Taltola City Corporation Super Market in the city’s Khilgaon area to press home their demands for ensuring neutral elections and annulment of the Digital Security Act.
Fakhrul demanded the resignation of the existing election commission. “We wish this election commission to resign soon. The election commission should be constituted afresh with competent persons,” he said.
The BNP secretary general also demanded resignation of the incumbent government and arrangement of the general election under a neutral government.
Discussing six BNP mayoral contenders in the most recent city elections in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal and Rajshahi, he said, “Can we get the scope to cast votes if we head to any polling station? Our six mayoral prospects are actually sitting here (in the rally). No-one of these could contest the polls as all their agents were ousted from polling stations plus they (EC) announced the election result of their choice at night.”
About the last two general elections, Fakhrul said the previous election commission also announced 154 MP prospects elected uncontested in the 2014 general election when BNP did not join it. However in the 2018 general election, the polls’ results were snatched at night before of the voting by changing their strategy, he said.
Expressing outrage for creating obstructions to holding their rallies in several cities to protest the recent elections, he said, "Why’s there so much fear? Why’re the general public rights to speak gaged? Why was the people’s voting right snatched? “Because, we realize if the persons get the scope to vote and cast votes, you’ll never manage to come to power,” he said.
Demanding cancellation of the Digital Security Act, the BNP leader said this government is very weak. “So, it formulates new laws like digital security act so that you can protect themselves!”
He claimed that even the federal government controls and monitors the people’s phone conversations and facebook activities.
BNP leaders Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Amanullah Aman, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Barkatullah Bulu and Abdus Salam addressed the rally presided over by BNP mayoral contender within the last Dhaka north city election Tabith Awal.
Besides, five other BNP mayoral contenders in the recent elections -- Ishraque Hossain in Dhaka south, Dr Shahadat Hossain in Chattogram, Mujibur Rahman Sarwar in Barishal, Nazrul Islam Manju in Khulna and Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul in Rajshahi - also addressed the rally.
Tabith accused the government of “staging farcical election” and urged the persons to be united to foil such polls later on.
