Govt will find excuse to postpone polls if BNP participates

Krishok Sramik Janata League President Kader Siddique yesterday said the government would find an excuse to postpone elections to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations if BNP participated in those.

"The ruling party-backed candidates will definitely lose... if free and fair elections take place and BNP joins," he told a press conference in front of his party's Motijheel office in the capital.

The freedom fighter and former Awami League leader has been staging a sit-in at the place since January 28,  demanding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hold talks with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and the latter withdraw the ongoing countrywide blockade and hartal.

"The ruling party will find an excuse to cancel the city corporation elections once BNP formally announces to back candidates," Siddique said, promising to be a servant of Sheikh Hasina if that did not happen.

He said the elections, which are slated for April 28, were aimed at diverting the anti-government movement. The government's announcement of holding the polls is like giving a "lollypop to a crying child" to calm him, he said.

"This is a mockery with the country's people. Free and fair elections cannot be held under the present Election Commission, whose backbone is broken."

Referring to Khaleda, Siddique said, "Withdraw the failed movement. The control of the movement is no longer at your hands. The intelligence is controlling it now. You better learn about movement first and then start over."