BNP shows diplomats 'municipal poll irregularities'

BNP yesterday played a 72-minute documentary before diplomats from the United Nations and 20 countries stationed in Dhaka, narrating "vote fraud and irregularities" in the December 30 municipality polls last year.

Addressing the meeting at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office at 4:00pm, the party leaders alleged that the municipality polls proved that no fair election could be held by the Election Commission and the Awami League, which came to power through the January 5 "voter-less" general election.

The envoys included those from Sweden, Spain, the USA, the UK, Russia, Denmark, Turkey, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan, a leader present at the meeting told The Daily Star.

Sources said BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir read out a written speech about the party's observations and position about the municipal polls.

Talking to journalists afterwards, BNP International Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon said, "It was a routine exchange of views with the diplomats."

BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan, the chairperson's Adviser Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Saudi Arabia affairs Envoy Enamul Haq Chowdhury and journalist Shafiq Rehman were present.