BNP to take part in polls

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday said BNP had told them that they would contest the next parliamentary elections.

"They [BNP] did not say in any print or electronic media that they would not contest the national polls. I am hopeful all the major political parties, including BNP, will take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections," he said.

The CEC was addressing a views exchange meeting with the district administration at the deputy commissioner's office.

He said, "We held talks with different political parties and they have suggested deployment of army during the polls. We will decide about it once we conclude the talks."

In reply to a query, Huda said the commission was on high alert so that no Rohingyas could be enlisted as voters.

"Besides, discussion was going on about involving the commission in the registration of the Rohingya refugees in biometric method," he said.

"Moreover, a special committee is monitoring the 30 upazilas where the Rohingyas' presence or movement was recorded," he said.

The CEC told these to journalists after holding the views exchange meeting chaired by Helaluddin Ahmed, acting secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, Superintendent of Police Mahbub Alam, District Election Officer Tajul Islam and election officials from 16 districts, among others.

The CEC told the meeting that all the local government elections would be held under the incumbent commission in a free and fair manner.