Expressing grave concern over the pre-polls violence, BNP today urged the Election Commission (EC) to take necessary steps for holding the elections in a transparent manner.

“Holding the upcoming municipality election in a free, fair and transparent manner is needed for the sake of the country and its democracy,” said BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan.

“We have expressed our grave concern over the pre-polls violence to the chief election commissioner and called for holding the elections in a free and fair manner,” said Moyeen, a standing committee member of the party.

Moyeen, who headed the five-member delegation of the party, was speaking to reporters emerging from the meeting with CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed at the EC Secretariat.

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Many leaders and activists of BNP and its different front and associate bodies have been harassed and implicated in “fake and motivated” cases for the last one week, Moyeen alleged.    

“It proves that the country’s overall situation is deteriorating,” the senior BNP leader said.  

Earlier in the day, for the second time in five days, BNP called upon the CEC just three days ahead of the municipality elections.

BNP has been complaining of rampant violation to the electoral code of conduct ahead of the December 30 polls and slamming the commission for its “failure to check” such anomalies.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today said she was confident of a landslide win against the Awami League and alleged that the government is trying to rig the elections.

Khaleda, who kept aside her party from participating in the last general election in January 2014, is participating in the municipal polls and seems determined to follow through.