Attempt to hold one-sided polls, BNP on EC schedule

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that the election commission has announced the polls schedule to hold yet another one-sided election as per what he said as the Awami League government’s design.

He came up with the reaction after the BNP-led 20-party alliance held a meeting at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Thursday evening, minutes after announcement of the election schedule by the chief election commissioner, KM Nurul Huda.

“The polls schedule was announced to hold a lopsided election. The government’s will has been reflected in it,” the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said the people will not accept any such election as it goes against hopes and aspirations of the people.

Jatiya Oikya Front, an opposition coalition in which the BNP is a major component, earlier requested the election commission to defer the announcement of the election schedule until the political parties reach an understanding on how to hold free and fair elections in the country.

The BNP secretary general also told a city rally on Tuesday that the opposition will hold a road march programme toward the Election Bhaban should the commission announce the schedue defying their request.

Chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda announced the election schedule in a televised address to the nation on Thursday evening that the 11th parliamentary elections will be held on 23 December (Sunday).

He announced that the last date for submitting nomination papers is 19 November while the date for scrutinising nomination papers is 22 November and the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers is 29 November.