EC helpless against polls violence: BNP

Despite knowing the prevailing irregularities in the Union Parishad elections, the Election Commission (EC) did not take any action to prevent the polls violence, BNP alleged today.

“The EC is sleeping despite being aware of the irregularities which are taking place during the UP elections,” said BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, while visiting the EC.

A three member BNP team met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed today and discussed about the election irrডgularities during the fifth phase of UP polls.

Regarding poll violence, Nazrul said, “It is useless to bring all these issues to the EC. They have done nothing to stop election related violence or took any action against it.”

When asked about why BNP kept visiting the EC office, he said, “We want to inform people what is happening.”

Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed today alleged that the fifth phase of UP elections was also held in the same way as before with vote rigging, ballot box snatching, unabated fake vote casting and flexing muscles by Awami League cadres.

“The ruling party ‘cadres’ were rigging vote with the help of law enforcers and the EC,” Rizvi said at a briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan central office today.

Narrating various election irregularities, the BNP leader said the common people’s scope of exercising their right to franchise in a congenial atmosphere without any fear is now a history.

Rizvi said the ruling party ‘cadres’ were rigging vote with the help of law enforcers and the Election Commission (EC).

“The Election Commission has fully stigmatised the country’s election atmosphere and process. It’s working sincerely to help the government to establish a one-party rule by snatching people’s independence and all rights, including the right of expression,” he observed.

The BNP leader alleged that the government could snatch people’s democratic rights to franchise only because of the EC’s subservient role.

Rizvi said the EC has apparently turned into a "clubhouse" forgetting its independent entity and constitutional power.

Like other phases of UP polls, he said the ruling party cadres obstructed voters and, intimidated them, captured polling stations at different UPs driving out BNP candidates agents from polling stations and attacked BNP leaders and activists.