Chittagong about to experience farce

The government is holding a farcical city corporation election in Chittagong as the ruling Awami League's cadres, aided by the Election Commission (EC) and law enforcers including plainclothes police and Rapid Action Battalion, have started intimidating voters and BNP men, alleged the party's leaders yesterday.
"They (police and the EC) did not even pay any heed to our complaints," Chittagong BNP President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told an emergency press conference at his Madhubagh residence.
"We apprehend that the vote will not be free and fair and people will not be able to exercise their democratic right to vote," added the chief polling agent of BNP-backed mayor candidate Manjur Alam Manju.
BNP men, especially polling agents and coordinators of polling centres, are being harassed and told to stay away from their localities till votes are cast, he said.
Many others have either been arrested or fled in fear, said Khasru along with BNP National Executive Committee Vice Chairman Abdullah Al Noman. 
Both alleged that a large number of AL cadres from adjacent districts have gathered and were roaming in nearly all the wards intimidating voters since morning. 
Even ministers, parliamentary standing committee chairmen and members and outsiders are staying at hotels to influence vote in favour of AL-backed mayor candidate AJM Nasir Uddin, they said.    
They, however, expected Manju to be elected by a large margin if people can vote.   
They expressed the intent to stay till votes end at 4:00pm, saying it was to encourage voters. When people fail to do so, they will see how only criminals and AL cadres have been given the right to get involved in politics, they added.