BNP-led alliance may not take part in Zilla Parishad polls

Most secretary generals of BNP-led 20-party alliance are not willing to take part in the Zilla Parishad elections coming up in December. 
“The process under which the election is going to be held is against the country’s constitution as general people cannot vote directly in the polls,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said after a meeting with the alliance’s secretary generals at the party’s Nayapaltan central office today.
However, chiefs of the 20-party alliance will take the final decision in this regard soon, the BNP leader added.
Fakhrul alleged that it would not be possible to hold a free and fair election under “the backboneless incumbent Election Commission”.
Pointing at the country’s current law and order situation, he claimed that at least 151 people were killed in extra-judicial killings in last three months.
According to the District Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016, only the elected representatives of local government bodies -- city corporations, upazila parishads and union parishads -- will vote to elect a chairman, 15 general and five women members in each district council.
After boycotting the January 5, 2014, national election, BNP contested all the local government elections held later.