They find EC’s attitude biased, impolite

Oikyafront walks out of EC meeting

Oikyafront walks out of EC meeting

Dhaka, Dec 25 (Just News): Jatiya Oikyafront leaders, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, on Tuesday walked out of a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) as they found the Commission’s attitude biased and impolite one.

Emerging from the meeting with the Election Commission (EC), BNP Secretray General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alagmir said that the government and the EC are trying to foil the upcoming polls.

Alamgir also told the media that they have walked out from the meeting as they were disappointed with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda’s remarks.

“His (CEC) behavior was inappropriate,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of BNP, told journalists before steaming out of Nirbachan Bhaban.

"We came here with the banner of Oikyafront today to inform Election Commission about the attacks and arrests of opposition leaders," Alamgir said adding, "We informed the EC about the attacks and arrest of our leaders several times. But we didn't get any response from them."

He said voters are now afraid whether they would be able to cast their votes. "How will the voters go to cast their votes if this situation remains unchanged?" he asked.

The BNP leader claimed that there is no minimum environment for election. "The government and the Election Commission are jointly trying to spoil the election," he said.

Replying to a question about Oikyafront's latest decision, Fakhrul Islam said people will take the decision. "But we won't let them score any goal in an empty filed," he said.

Replying to another question about army deployment, another Oikyafront leader Syeed Nazrul Islam Khan said, "We sought army in the field of election. But the EC don't let army to go in the field as they (army) are working under the EC."

The Election Commission is trying to destroy the army's image, Nazrul Islam claimed.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said: “When we told the CEC about police harassment, he [the CEC] took the side of the police instead of being sympathetic. That is why we had to walk out of the meeting.”

While narrating what occurred at the meeting, alliance leader Jafar Ullah Chowdhury said Dr Kamal Hossain told the CEC that “savage and stick-wielding” police are not allowing their candidates to campaign for the upcoming general election.

“Police have asked us to use the loudspeaker after 2pm and candidates of the Awami League-led grand alliance are campaigning aided by police,” Jafar Ullah quoted Dr Kamal as saying.

Dr Kamal said police and Awami League goons are carrying out attacks on their activists.

The CEC got angry at Dr Kamal. “What do you think of yourself?,” the CEC asked Dr Kamal.

BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan then told the CEC to let them know if the commission will be able to create a congenial atmosphere for the election. “If not we will hold a press conference today at the National Press Club to announce that we are boycotting the election,” he said.

Earlier around 12pm Tuesday, a delegation of the Jatiya Oikyafront led by its chief Dr Kamal Hossain went to meet the Election Commission at its Afgargaon offices.

CEC, election commissioners Mahmub Taluker and Rafiqul Islam and commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed was present in the meeting.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, National Standing Committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Mirza Abbad, Nagarik Oikya Convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Ganasasthya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury represented the opposition alliance in the meeting among others.

(Justnews/ys/1440hr)