Release 5 detained nomination aspirants, BNP writes to EC

The BNP today submitted a list of five detained nomination aspirants of the party to the Election Commission.

The party also sent a letter to the commission alongside the list urging the constitutional body to immediately release of the leaders.

Salah Uddin Khan, who keeps the record of cases against BNP men, handed over the letter to EC officials this noon.

In the letter, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that they had submitted two lists of their detained leaders and activists earlier to the commission. “But the EC did not take a measure. On the other hand, the drive against the party men has been continued,” he said.    

The five BNP nomination aspirants are Ibrahim Hossain (Bagerhat-4), Anisuzzaman Khan (Gaibandha-2), Anwarul Haque (Netrakona-2), Sheikh Rabiul Alam (Dhaka-10) and Abu Bakkar (Jashore).

Earlier, the BNP informed the commission that its 529 leaders and activists, including many nomination aspirants, were arrested after the announcement of the 11th parliamentary election.

Following the BNP’s allegation, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda then requested the party to provide a list of the detained leaders and activists. Then, BNP submitted lists of the detained party men to the commission.

In today’s letter, Fakhrul also urged the commission to stop the ongoing drive against the party leaders and activists immediately. 

Responding to the letter, EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed this afternoon told reporters that they will discuss the issue at the commission’s meeting tomorrow.

When asked about the previous lists of BNP, he said the party had submitted the lists before the announcement of the election schedule. The Election Commission cannot act on such matter before the polls schedule announcement, he added.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION?

Election Commission has revised polls schedule, deferring the 11th general election by a week to December 30 – a decision taken on November 12.

The authorities have fixed November 28 as the deadline for filing nomination papers, December 2 for scrutiny and December 9 last date of withdrawal.

The move came following demands from several opposition political parties.