HC stay on DNCC elections

A ‘drama’ staged by EC and govt: BNP

We have respect for law: AL

The BNP has alleged that both the Election Commission (EC) and the government are responsible for the court stay on the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) by-election slated for February 26. Left-leaning parties also blamed the EC and the government for the uncertainty.

At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, BNP leaders described the stay order as a "jointly arranged drama" of the EC and the government. The Awami League, however, rejected the BNP allegation as "baseless" and "negative". The BNP leaders said the government cannot avoid its responsibility if the court finds any fault in the election process. It is the duty of the government to provide administrative support to the EC, the leaders added. They also said that the Awami League knew that it would not win the polls.

“Certainly, the court found faults in the election process and ordered stay of the DNCC by-polls. It is the responsibility of the government to provide administrative support to the EC. Thus, the government cannot avoid its responsibility if the court finds any fault,” said BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan.

Talking to The Independent last night, Khan further said it is the EC’s responsibility to remove the reasons for which the court stayed the DNCC polls for three months. “The government is responsible to look into the working of the EC. Thus, how can the government avoid its responsibility if there is any shortcoming in the election process?” he added.

He also questioned the announcement of the election schedule without making full preparations. If there was any fault in discharging their duties and responsibilities, both the EC and the government will have to take the responsibility for postponement of the elections, he said.

Khan also said the BNP was prepared for the election and had fielded its candidate to contest the polls. He expressed his ignorance about whether the ruling party was prepared.

On Wednesday, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government has taken the opportunity of the postponed election, sensing that the ruling party would not win the DNCC mayoral poll.

BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the EC has announced the election schedule on the government's directive by keeping loopholes in the law. He termed it as a "blueprint of the government". Awami League advisory council member Tofail Ahmed strongly criticised the BNP’s comments on the postponement of the DNCC polls, saying they have full respect for the law. “When the court has given the order, how can we take the opportunity?” he said.

"No gentleman will reply to what they say. We abide by the law. I won't say anything in this regard," he said yesterday in response to a question at a seminar of the AL publicity and publication sub-committee. Tofail, who is also the minister for commerce, said the High Court gave the order on a writ, but the BNP finds politics here too. Thus, it is understood that the BNP has no respect for the HC and the judiciary, he added.

 

HC stay on DNCC elections

A drama staged by EC and govt: BNP

We have respect for law: AL

The BNP has alleged that both the Election Commission (EC) and the government are responsible for the court stay on the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) by-election slated for February 26. Left-leaning parties also blamed the EC and the government for the uncertainty. At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, BNP leaders described the stay order as a jointly arranged drama of the EC and the government. The Awami League, however, rejected the BNP allegation as baseless and negative. The BNP leaders said the government cannot avoid its responsibility if the court finds any fault in the election process. It is the duty of the government to provide administrative support to the EC, the leaders added. They also said that the Awami League knew that it would not win the polls. Certainly, the court found faults in the election process and ordered stay of the DNCC by-polls. It is the responsibility of the government to provide administrative support to the EC. Thus, the government cannot avoid its responsibility if the court finds any fault, said BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan. Talking to The Independent last night, Khan further said it is the ECs responsibility to remove the reasons for which the court stayed the DNCC polls for three months. The government is responsible to look into the working of the EC. Thus, how can the government avoid its responsibility if there is any shortcoming in the election process? he added. He also questioned the announcement of the election schedule without making full preparations. If there was any fault in discharging their duties and responsibilities, both the EC and the government will have to take the responsibility for postponement of the elections, he said. Khan also said the BNP was prepared for the election and had fielded its candidate to contest the polls. He expressed his ignorance about whether the ruling party was prepared. On Wednesday, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government has taken the opportunity of the postponed election, sensing that the ruling party would not win the DNCC mayoral poll. BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the EC has announced the election schedule on the governments directive by keeping loopholes in the law. He termed it as a blueprint of the government. Awami League advisory council member Tofail Ahmed strongly criticised the BNPs comments on the postponement of the DNCC polls, saying they have full respect for the law. When the court has given the order, how can we take the opportunity? he said. No gentleman will reply to what they say. We abide by the law. I wont say anything in this regard, he said yesterday in response to a question at a seminar of the AL publicity and publication sub-committee. Tofail, who is also the minister for commerce, said the High Court gave the order on a writ, but the BNP finds politics here too. Thus, it is understood that the BNP has no respect for the HC and the judiciary, he added.