BNP questions EC fairness in UP polls

The BNP yesterday alleged that the government and the Election Commission are "working together" to hold the upcoming Union Parishad polls as per their will.

The party alleged that some 100 of its chairman aspirants faced obstruction from ruling Awami League men while filing their candidacy on Monday, but the EC did not take any action.

In response, Election Commissioner Zabed Ali said, "It is painful if anyone created obstruction for others in submitting nomination papers."

Some 25 AL-nominated chairman aspirants are meanwhile set to be elected unopposed.

In the first phase, polls to 738 UPs would be held on March 22. The deadline for filing application expired on Monday.

For the first time in Bangladesh, elections to the post of chairman will be held in partisan lines and 16 political parties, out of 40, are contesting the polls.

Addressing a press briefing yesterday, BNP Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed alleged that at least 100 of its chairman aspirants faced obstructions from AL men while filing nominations in different districts, including Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Khulna, Satkhira and Munshiganj.

Rizvi, however, did not clarify whether the aspirants were able to submit nomination papers.

According to EC's statistics, BNP did not nominate chairman candidates in 70 UPs.

Criticising the role of EC and AL, Rizvi said they [AL and EC] want to create another model of occupying polling stations.

Election Commissioner Zabed Ali has meanwhile warned that necessary action would be taken if anyone violated electoral laws and tried to destroy the peaceful atmosphere for polls.

Addressing an election review meeting in Pirojpur yesterday, he said, "We will take steps if we get specific allegations."

CANDIDACY STATISTICS

The EC yesterday found that only AL-nominated chairman aspirants filed nominations in 25 UPs. It has paved the way for them to be elected unopposed.

"If their nominations are considered valid after scrutiny tomorrow [Wednesday], they will be declared elected unopposed," said a deputy secretary of the EC.

As many as 3,568 chairman aspirants filed nomination papers to contest the elections. Of them, 1,900 were nominated by different political parties, while the rest 1,668 were independents, according to the EC.

Ruling AL has nominated multiple chairman aspirants in three UPs -- Ambaria under Mirpur upazila of Kushtia, Jogipol under Dhighalia upazila of Khulna and Kalarmarchara under Moheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar.

As per rules, a political party must nominate a single candidate in each UP. If any political party nominates multiple candidates, nomination of all the candidates would be cancelled.

"The returning officers will take necessary measure to this matter while scrutinising the nominations in the three union parishads," an election commissioner told The Daily Star seeking anonymity.