BNP ready to contest

Wants schedule deferred by 15 days

The BNP has formally announ­ced that it would contest the upco­ming municipal elections if the Election Commission and the government agree to some of its conditions, including deferral of the polls schedule by at least 15 days, release of its leaders and activists, and ensuring a “level-playing field” for free and fair elections. “The atmosphere was hardly conducive to holding free and fair elections. The BNP is a democratic party and it will take part in all local body polls if the atmosphere is found conducive to fair voting,” said party spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon at a press conference at the party's Naya Paltan central office in the capital yesterday.
He said the polls must be deferred by at least 15 days as about 50 lakh new voters will become eligible for exercising their franchise from January 2 next year. “If the polls are held on December 30, they would not be able to vote,” he said.
Besides, the party will get only 10 days to submit nomination papers if the polls are held on December 30. The time is not enough, he added. Party sources said a delegation of BNP leaders will visit the Election Commission tomorrow and hand a charter of demands to the chief election commissioner. Meanwhile, the BNP has almost completed its list of aspirants which will be made public in a day or two, party insiders said.
At the same time, the party is also holding talks with leaders of its major allies, including Jamaat-e-Islami, to work out a better accommodation of ‘good and viable single candidate’ for mayoral race in each municipality.
Party leaders argue that the present schedule of the polls is too short for intending candidates to get prepared for the important local body polls to be held for the first time under party symbols.
A senor BNP leader, however, said they would not give any concession to the ruling party at the grassroots level polls no matter what the process of electioneering is.
“We will not let the ruling party to go unchallenged in the polls, no matter what the process of electioneering is,” he said.  Talking to The Independent,

BNP standing committee member Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah said the EC should consider the points his party is going to table before it.
The EC should not appoint returning officers from the administration, which, he said, has been politicised. About the updating of party candidates list, the BNP leader said they have already completed the list of candidates. “But it will take more times to bring the documents of intending candidates,” he added.
Asked as to how they would accommodate allies’ candidates, he termed it as a question of “give and take.”
“If our alliance members have any good candidate, we will resolve the matter after scrutiny and discussion,” he added. Hannan Shah alleged that the EC has put the BNP and its allies in trouble by giving it a very short time to fill up forms and complete other formalities.
“It has become almost an impossible task for the BNP to deal with the situation. We hope the government will consider the matter,” he said.  
Like Hannan, Asaduzzaman Ripon also questioned the integrity of the EC.
“Despite having enough manpower, administration cadre officers are being appointed as returning officers,” Asaduzzaman alleged.
Upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) and officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations have been appointed in municipalities on the request of members of parliament and leaders of the ruling party. So, all UNOs and OCs should be reshuffled, he demanded.
BNP vice-chairman Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said the party would like to contest the elections provided the government creates a congenial atmosphere for free and fair polls.
“We want the government and the Election Commission to maintain neutrality in conducting the polls,” he said.
Meanwhile, the BNP move for the municipal polls have sent ripples among grassroots leaders. Some grassroots leaders said they are waiting for the party's final decision to contest the polls.
“We are ready to take part in the municipal polls. We are just waiting for instructions from the party high command,” said Kustia district BNP president Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi.
Asked when they would send the list of prospective candidates, he said the list would be sent in a day or two.
Former BNP lawmaker and Chittagong (North) unit president, Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, said intending party candidates have been working in their respective areas.
“We will take steps after talking to the party's senior leaders,” he added.
Sources said some leaders were working at party central office and BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office for a couple of days to finalise the list of municipal polls candidate.
A senior BNP leader, preferring anonymity, said as per direction of Khaleda Zia, they would finalise the candidates’ list and nominate a single candidate from the alliance for every mayoral posts.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission announced the polls schedule for 236 municipalities.

 

 

 

 

BNP ready to contest

Wants schedule deferred by 15 days

The BNP has formally announced that it would contest the upcoming municipal elections if the Election Commission and the government agree to some of its conditions, including deferral of the polls schedule by at least 15 days, release of its leaders and activists, and ensuring a level-playing field for free and fair elections. The atmosphere was hardly conducive to holding free and fair elections. The BNP is a democratic party and it will take part in all local body polls if the atmosphere is found conducive to fair voting, said party spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon at a press conference at the partys Naya Paltan central office in the capital yesterday. He said the polls must be deferred by at least 15 days as about 50 lakh new voters will become eligible for exercising their franchise from January 2 next year. If the polls are held on December 30, they would not be able to vote, he said. Besides, the party will get only 10 days to submit nomination papers if the polls are held on December 30. The time is not enough, he added. Party sources said a delegation of BNP leaders will visit the Election Commission tomorrow and hand a charter of demands to the chief election commissioner. Meanwhile, the BNP has almost completed its list of aspirants which will be made public in a day or two, party insiders said. At the same time, the party is also holding talks with leaders of its major allies, including Jamaat-e-Islami, to work out a better accommodation of good and viable single candidate for mayoral race in each municipality. Party leaders argue that the present schedule of the polls is too short for intending candidates to get prepared for the important local body polls to be held for the first time under party symbols. A senor BNP leader, however, said they would not give any concession to the ruling party at the grassroots level polls no matter what the process of electioneering is. We will not let the ruling party to go unchallenged in the polls, no matter what the process of electioneering is, he said. Talking to The Independent, BNP standing committee member Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah said the EC should consider the points his party is going to table before it. The EC should not appoint returning officers from the administration, which, he said, has been politicised. About the updating of party candidates list, the BNP leader said they have already completed the list of candidates. But it will take more times to bring the documents of intending candidates, he added. Asked as to how they would accommodate allies candidates, he termed it as a question of give and take. If our alliance members have any good candidate, we will resolve the matter after scrutiny and discussion, he added. Hannan Shah alleged that the EC has put the BNP and its allies in trouble by giving it a very short time to fill up forms and complete other formalities. It has become almost an impossible task for the BNP to deal with the situation. We hope the government will consider the matter, he said. Like Hannan, Asaduzzaman Ripon also questioned the integrity of the EC. Despite having enough manpower, administration cadre officers are being appointed as returning officers, Asaduzzaman alleged. Upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) and officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations have been appointed in municipalities on the request of members of parliament and leaders of the ruling party. So, all UNOs and OCs should be reshuffled, he demanded. BNP vice-chairman Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said the party would like to contest the elections provided the government creates a congenial atmosphere for free and fair polls. We want the government and the Election Commission to maintain neutrality in conducting the polls, he said. Meanwhile, the BNP move for the municipal polls have sent ripples among grassroots leaders. Some grassroots leaders said they are waiting for the partys final decision to contest the polls. We are ready to take part in the municipal polls. We are just waiting for instructions from the party high command, said Kustia district BNP president Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi. Asked when they would send the list of prospective candidates, he said the list would be sent in a day or two. Former BNP lawmaker and Chittagong (North) unit president, Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, said intending party candidates have been working in their respective areas. We will take steps after talking to the partys senior leaders, he added. Sources said some leaders were working at party central office and BNP chairpersons Gulshan office for a couple of days to finalise the list of municipal polls candidate. A senior BNP leader, preferring anonymity, said as per direction of Khaleda Zia, they would finalise the candidates list and nominate a single candidate from the alliance for every mayoral posts. On Tuesday, the Election Commission announced the polls schedule for 236 municipalities.