‘Fair polls impossible with AL-aligned admin’

Staff Reporter :

BNP Senior Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said that no national election can be free and fair under an administration and polling system dominated by the Awami League.
“With the Awami-era bureaucracy and Awami-friendly polling agents in place, a credible election is simply not possible. The Election Commission must deploy impartial officials at the field level to ensure fairness,” he told reporters.

Rizvi made the remarks after placing wreaths at the grave of BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka this morning. The programme was organised by the newly reconstituted Nilphamari district BNP.

The senior joint secretary general of BNP demanded that all “Awami-backed cadres” be removed from the electoral process to restore neutrality.

On the issue of introducing a proportional representation (PR) system, Rizvi argued that the people of Bangladesh are not prepared for such an arrangement and questioned the motives behind its promotion.

Pointing to years of persecution faced by BNP activists during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, Rizvi alleged that countless leaders and workers were thrown behind bars on fabricated charges.
“Opposing Sheikh Hasina meant inviting false cases and imprisonment. For 16 years of her regime, BNP activists were either in jail or constantly subjected to harassment. You know well that a powerful minister from Nilphamari carried out a steamroller policy against our leaders and supporters,” he said.

Speaking about the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, Rizvi expressed hope that participation of all political forces would help re-establish a healthy academic atmosphere.
“If all political views are allowed space, a fair environment for education can be ensured,” he added in response to a query.
BNP Assistant Organizing Secretary Abdul Khalek, along with several Nilphamari district BNP leaders and activists, attended the event.