BNP shares its concern with envoys

The BNP yesterday told foreign envoys that deployment of the army during the December 30 municipal polls could ease people's "fear and concern" over holding the elections in a free and fair manner.  

Briefing diplomats of 12 countries and representatives of United Nations and European Union, BNP leaders alleged the government is plotting to manipulate the polls.

Party's standing committee member Moyeen Khan led the BNP delegation at the meeting.

He informed the diplomats about the Election Commission's "subservient attitude" towards the government and its helplessness in taking action against the ministers, ruling party lawmakers and leaders, said meeting sources.

The party also provided the envoys with some documents, CDs and paper cuttings in support of their statements. It sought cooperation from the diplomats in ensuring that the local body elections are held without any political influence.

Representatives from the embassies and high commissions of the USA, the UK, Germany, Japan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Canada, Turkey, Sweden, Singapore and Nepal were present at the hour-long meeting at the party chief's Gulshan office.

About the alleged repression on party candidates, BNP leaders cited the example of the municipal polls in Feni, home district of Chairperson Khaleda Zia, where two AL mayor candidates and 44 councillors are set to be elected uncontested.

Of the three municipalities going to polls in Feni, nominations of BNP mayor hopefuls in two municipalities were declared illegal. The party's mayor aspirant in the other municipality cannot join electioneering for fear of arrest, BNP leaders told the meeting.

They also alleged that the BNP men were forced to withdraw their nominations in many municipalities. The government officials and the law enforcement agencies involved in the electoral process were also biased towards the ruling party nominees, claimed the BNP leaders.

Enquired by the British high commission representative about why the BNP was demanding army deployment, Moyeen said this is the first time the municipalities are going to mayoral polls under the banners of political parties.

"As people have confidence in the army, the BNP thinks voters' concern and fear over holding the polls in a fee and fair manner would be eased if army were deployed," a BNP leader quoted Moyeen as saying.

"Some of you [diplomats] had said we should have contested the January 5 national polls last year. But now you see what's going on centring the municipal polls. Seven mayoral and 150 councillor aspirants are going to be elected uncontested as our party men were not allowed to file nominations in many of those municipalities," added Moyeen.

BNP leaders further claimed that there was no level playing field as many BNP men were put behind bars in politically motivated cases.

Some 1,000 BNP men were rounded up across the country in the last two weeks, said a BNP leader. "Is it an example of a fair election?" he questioned.

The Japanese envoy wanted to know if the BNP was determined to stay in the polls race till the end or it would quit like it did in the last city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong.

Moyeen assured the diplomats that his party was prepared to fight the battle of ballots although the party candidates were facing huge obstacles from the ruling party men during electioneering.

BNP chairperson's advisers Reaz Rahman, Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, Sabih Uddin Ahmed, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and the party's International Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon were present, among others.

Later, talking to reporters, Moyeen said they discussed with the diplomats municipality polls and the country's overall situation.

Meanwhile, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif at a press conference at the party chief's Dhanmondi office yesterday said it was "shameful for the nation that the BNP lodged complaints with foreigners about the country's internal issues."