BNP demands fresh UP polls where it �could not contest�

The BNP yesterday (Tuesday) demanded fresh union parishad (UP) polls where its chairperson candidates were prevented from submitting their nomination papers and ruling party candidates got elected unopposed.
“We demand fresh polls to the union parishads where candidates could not reach the election offices to submit their nominations due to obstruction by ruling party people,” said BNP vice-chairman Abdullah Al Noman.
Addressing a meeting at the Jatiya Press Club, he said if the Election Commission (EC) arranges a fresh poll, it could restore its image which it had lost for its controversial role in the past.
He alleged that over 150 BNP chairperson candidates could not submit their nomination papers because they were prevented from doing so by activists of the Juba League and Chhatra League. Both are associate organisations of the ruling Awami League.
“The elections could not be contested in these UPs and ruling party candidates won unopposed. The government should hold fresh elections there,” he added.
He regretted that there was no instance of getting elected unopposed in the 100 years of UP poll history in the country. 
The BNP leader alleged that the EC has become the government’s most loyal institution and demanded cancellation of polls where an aspirant became the sole candidate by force.
Noman said even though the BNP wants to hold its national council on March 19, the party cannot make preparations as it has not been given permission for the venue yet. The BNP leader demanded that the government allocate a specific venue immediately for holding the council.
Lashing out at the recent statement of the Prime Minister about the Daily Star editor, Mahfuz Anam, and the Prothom Alo editor, Motiur Rahman, he said both had good relations with the government, but the question has arisen as to why the ties have now soured.
The meeting, organised by Desh Bachao, Manush Bachao Andolon, a pro-BNP platform, was addressed, among others, by Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Abdus Salam Azad, Helen Jerin Khan and Abu Naser Rahmatullah. KM Rakibul Islam, president of the organisation, chaired the meeting.

 

 

BNP demands fresh UP polls where it �could not contest�

The BNP yesterday (Tuesday) demanded fresh union parishad (UP) polls where its chairperson candidates were prevented from submitting their nomination papers and ruling party candidates got elected unopposed. We demand fresh polls to the union parishads where candidates could not reach the election offices to submit their nominations due to obstruction by ruling party people, said BNP vice-chairman Abdullah Al Noman. Addressing a meeting at the Jatiya Press Club, he said if the Election Commission (EC) arranges a fresh poll, it could restore its image which it had lost for its controversial role in the past. He alleged that over 150 BNP chairperson candidates could not submit their nomination papers because they were prevented from doing so by activists of the Juba League and Chhatra League. Both are associate organisations of the ruling Awami League. The elections could not be contested in these UPs and ruling party candidates won unopposed. The government should hold fresh elections there, he added. He regretted that there was no instance of getting elected unopposed in the 100 years of UP poll history in the country. The BNP leader alleged that the EC has become the governments most loyal institution and demanded cancellation of polls where an aspirant became the sole candidate by force. Noman said even though the BNP wants to hold its national council on March 19, the party cannot make preparations as it has not been given permission for the venue yet. The BNP leader demanded that the government allocate a specific venue immediately for holding the council. Lashing out at the recent statement of the Prime Minister about the Daily Star editor, Mahfuz Anam, and the Prothom Alo editor, Motiur Rahman, he said both had good relations with the government, but the question has arisen as to why the ties have now soured. The meeting, organised by Desh Bachao, Manush Bachao Andolon, a pro-BNP platform, was addressed, among others, by Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Abdus Salam Azad, Helen Jerin Khan and Abu Naser Rahmatullah. KM Rakibul Islam, president of the organisation, chaired the meeting.