Cancel both phases of UP polls, BNP urges CEC

BNP today urged Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed to announce cancellation of phase 1 and 2 of Union Parishad elections over irregularities and violence across the country.

A three-member BNP delegation led by the party’s Joint Secretary General Md Shahjahan met the CEC at his Election Commission (EC) Secretariat office this afternoon.

After the meeting, MD Shahjahan told reporters that they have requested the CEC to cancel the Union Parishad elections over widespread irregularities and violence.

“We have urged the CEC to cancel the UP polls and improve the environment for elections in the country. If the EC fails to do so, we would consider not participating in the polls under this EC in future,” Md Shahjahan said.

“It seemed as if the CEC is helpless over the situation regarding the UP polls,” the BNP leader added.

The first phase of Union Parishad polls to a total of 752 UPs begun on March 22, while the second phase was held in 639 unions today.

This was the first time such grass roots elections were held under party banners.

At least 18 people have died so far in election violence, including six being killed in the second phase of the elections held today.