AL fears rigging

An AL Parliamentary Party (ALPP) meeting at its Dhanmondi office in the city yesterday observed that the government has been misusing its executive power to skew the polls in favour of the ruling four-party alliance candidate Khadija Amin, widow of BNP's Nurul Amin Talukdar, the late MP from the constituency. Six other candidates including M Jubed Ali of the AL are contesting the polls.

Chaired by AL presidium member Kazi Zafarullah, also the party's campaign co-ordinator for the Netrakona-3 by-elections, the meeting threatened tough agitation against the government in case of any vote-rigging. Former finance minister SAMS Kibria aided Zafarullah during a press briefing after the meeting.

"Forty AL lawmakers divided into 20 groups will monitor the situation in and around the vulnerable polling centres during the polling hours," Zafarullah said.

He alleged that some cabinet ministers were using government facilities while campaigning for the four-party alliance candidate, which violates the election code of conduct. He also urged the Election Commission to ensure maximum security for the minority voters, who, he said, are under threat from cadres of the ruling alliance.

The meeting observed that the government ignored AL's request for army deployment at vulnerable polling centres and instead deployed police and BDR personnel who, the AL leaders alleged, have been directed by State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar to work for the four-party alliance candidate.

The ALPP meeting elaborately discussed the latest situation in Netrakona-3 in the run-up to the by-polls to the parliamentary seat that fell vacant following the death of BNP Stalwart Nurul Amin Talukdar three month's ago.