BNP wants army for NCC election

Fearing for the electoral atmosphere, BNP today demanded deployment of the armed forces for the Narayanganj City Corporation polls scheduled for December 22.

“Narayanganj is a city of godfathers. Army is necessary to maintain law and order there,” said Rizvi Ahmed, senior joint secretary general of BNP, at a programme in Dhaka.

“The people of Narayanganj can exercise their franchise smoothly if they get the opportunity of a free and fair election. They will not vote godfathers,” Rizvi said.

The BNP senior secretary general was speaking at a programme held at Jatiya Press Club hours after the party announced its candidate for the Narayanganj city mayor race.

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RIZVI LASHES OUT AT INU

Rizvi Ahmed today lashed out at Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu for his criticisms of Khaleda Zia’s proposals on formation of Election Commission.

Earlier, in a briefing held at Nayapaltan headquarters in Dhaka, Rizvi termed Inu’s criticisms as “uncivil” and aimed to “please his master in ridiculously funny manner”.

“Mr. Inu and his cohorts will face a slide if the next general elections are held in a free and fair manner. That’s why they are bursting out in anger of Khaleda Zia’s proposals,” he said.

“In fair elections, Mr Inu’s supporters doubt if he can make it to become a Union Parishad member,” Rizvi said. “Only a servant Election Commission puts people like Mr Inu to power.”

Bangladesh’s political stage is abuzz with the set of recommendations provided by BNP chief Khaleda Zia towards formation of a new election commission.

The new commission will oversee the forthcoming general elections as the term of the incumbent commission, led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, is due for expiration in February next year.

Information minister and a lawmaker from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Inu, pulled up on Khaleda saying she was trying to stir “uncertainty and political vacuum” in the country.

Earlier, ruling Awami League instantly rejected Khaleda’s proposals.