Defer polls by 15 days

The BNP yesterday announced that it would contest the December 30 municipality polls on certain conditions, including deferral of the polls by 15 days.

The party also demanded a rescheduling of the polls, the release of  party men from jail and an end to the arrests of its activists across the country. It also demanded that a level-playing field be created for a free and fair poll.

BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon made the announcement at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office.

"The BNP is a democratic party and it takes part in all local body polls if the atmosphere is favourable for fair voting ... The party has decided to take part in the municipality polls on certain conditions," he said.

However, the party did not say what it would do if the Election Commission did not defer the polls.

"Ten days to submit nominations is not enough," he said, stressing the need for more time to complete the process of nominating candidates.

Meanwhile, EC Secretary Sirajul Islam last night told The Daily Star that there was no scope of postponing the election date.

Ripon also questioned the decision to hold the election on December 30, barely three days before a large number of new voters would be added to the voter list. He put the number at five million.

"We demand the rescheduling of the polls to enable them to vote, and for other reasons," said Ripon, also the foreign affairs secretary of the party.

He also criticised the EC as it appointed administrative officers as returning officers though, he claimed, the commission has sufficient manpower.

He requested the government to lift the block on Facebook so that the aspirants could conduct their campaign in the social media as well.

The decision to participate in the municipality polls was made at a meeting of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia with senior leaders on Wednesday. The next day, the BNP chief met the leaders of the allies to discuss the issue, said party sources.

The BNP-led 20 party boycotted the 2014 parliamentary elections as it demanded that the polls be conducted under the supervision of a neutral caretaker administration.