Farcical polls a blatant reality: Fakhrul

BNP today said their apprehension of a ‘farcical election’ became true as today’s municipality polls have been marked by “gross irregularities”.

The party demanded re-election to at least 1,500 polling centres of 160 municipalities. It alleged that the agents of the party candidates were forced out of more than 1,500 polling stations in 157 to 200 municipalities.

“The election was held as per the blueprint of the government that we had anticipated earlier. There were no signs of peaceful environment during the polls,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in a post-poll reaction this afternoon at Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office.

He said attacks on BNP candidates, their polling agents and intimidation of voters took place in most of the electoral constituencies turning the polls “farcical.

The purpose of this election system will be questioned due to the “subservient and incompetent” Election Commission (EC).

“We took part in the election as part of our movement to restore democracy and the Election Commission had also assured us of holding a free and fair election, but they failed miserably,” he said.

Asked, he said they will set their next course of action after a meeting of the party’s senior leaders.