Rangpur city polls: BNP sees violation spree

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed today criticised the Election Commission, saying it is playing a silent role after gross violation of the electoral code of conduct in the Rangpur City Corporation polls.

“The ruling quarter is violating all electoral rules in a festive mood while the Election Commission turning a blind eye,” Rizvi brought the allegation while addressing a programme in Dhaka this noon.

The BNP leader accused the government of hatching a plot to throw out the party’s nominated mayoral candidate in the election that is scheduled to be held on December 21.

Awami League nominated Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu as mayoral candidate for the Rangpur City Corporation election while Mostafizur Rahman will vie as the Jatiya Party (Ershad), nominated candidate in the election. Kawsar Zaman Babla, vice president of Rangpur city BNP, is the BNP-nominated man.

Referring to a High Court order, Rizvi said the local administration has been trying to keep BNP nominated candidate out of the election process but failed by the grace of the High Court.

The High Court yesterday cleared the way for Babla to contest the Rangpur City Corporation election as the bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice AKM Zahirul Hoque dropped a writ petition filed challenging the legality of the candidacy from the hearing list.

The local administration is harassing BNP leaders and activists who are engaged in election campaign in favour of Babla, he said. “We condemned such illicit acts of the local administration.”