Staying in polls depends on EC, govt: Oikya Front

Staying in polls depends on EC, govt: Oikya Front

Dhaka, Nov 14 (Just News): The Jatiya Oikya Front says the attitude of the Election Commission and the government will say whether they will stay in the election race or not.

“Whether we will remain in the election solely depends on the Election and the government,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Wednesday after a meeting between the coalition’s top leaders and the Commission.

Addressing a media call at the BNP’s Naya Paltan offices, the alliance’s spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul said the EC and the government has so far failed to demonstrate a positive attitude for ensuring a credible election.

“During our meeting, we raised the issue of the Awami League’s meeting on nominating candidates at the Ganabhaban (PM’s official residence) and pointed out that it was a violation of the code of conduct. The Commission assured us of addressing the matter.”

The BNP leader said that they reiterated the demand for party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release, before adding, “We said that the election will be not fair without her.”

Oikya Front’s leader Gano Forum chief Dr Kamal Hossain said the Commission has assured them of ensuring a free, fair and credible election and that the chief election commissioner described the incident in front of the BNP headquarters as unfortunate.

“The Commission said it will consider our call to defer the polls,” he said when Mirza Fakhrul added that they urged to delay the election by three weeks.

The BNP secretary general said they have urged the EC to scrap plans to use electronic voting machines (EVMs), deploying troops at all polling stations, shuffles in administration, security of polling agent and measures to ensure that the media and observers can do their job freely.

“They have assured us on all of the demands we raised. It’s for the people to say will they live up to their commitments,” Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal Hossain told the media.