The BNP-led 20-party alliance termed the upcoming elections to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations as stage-managed drama to distract people’s attention from its anti-government movement.

“The Election Commission is going to hold the stage-managed local government elections like the January 5 national polls as per a blueprint of the government,” said a statement issued by BNP Joint Secretary General Barkat Ullah Bulu this evening.

“If the Election Commission had intention to hold acceptable elections, it would not have hurried to announce the schedules for holding the elections in April according to the suggestions of the inspector general of police,” the statement added.

It alleged that the government has arranged the city corporation elections at a time when the 20-party alliance’s anti-government movement is on the verge of the victory.