Khaleda 'can participate' in polls: Fakhrul

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia can contest the upcoming 11th parliamentary election, the party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today.

There is no scope of any confusion about her participation in election, he said while briefing reporters at the Gulshan office of Khaleda this afternoon.

“What the Awami League leaders are saying does not make any sense. She (Khaleda) is still competent for participating in the election. We believe that she can take part in the election,” he told journalists in replying to a query.

The BNP leader alleged that the Election Commission is yet to create a level playing field for all the political parties ahead of the polls scheduled to be held on December 30. The government is creating a "negative" situation instead of creating a level-playing field, he added.

Creating a level-playing field, release of the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia and end to arbitrary arrests and filing of cases against their leaders and activists are among their most important demands, Fakhrul told reporters at a briefing.

'BNP’s popular leaders facing arrests, threats'

Earlier in the day, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged, police are arresting the party’s leaders who are highly likely to win in the general elections.

“After declaration of the polls schedule, arbitrary arrests and nameless cases against our activists have increased,” he told the media this morning.

“Especially, our popular leaders who have high chances of winning in the elections are being arrested and kept behind bars without bail,” Fakhrul claimed.

He alleged, it is all part of the government’s technique to gain a political edge ahead of the general elections taking place on December 30.

“They are threatening our leaders over phone, seeking money from them. This is tarnishing the election atmosphere of the country,” Fakhrul said.

He asserted, it is the duty of the Election Commission to create a level-playing field and a congenial atmosphere, and take responsibility of the government.

Fakhrul was speaking during the interview session of the party’s nomination aspirants in the morning.