The BNP yesterday demanded that the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) commissioner and Gazipur police super be withdrawn from the Khulna and Gazipur civic polls, scheduled to be held on May 15. A BNP delegation, led by the party's standing committee member Dr Abdul Moin Khan, raised this demand during a meeting with chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda at the EC secretariat. BNP leaders Abdullah Al Nman, Barkatullah Bulu and Mahbubuddin Khokan, among others, were present at the two-hour meeting, which began at 3:15pm.

After the meeting, the CEC told reporters that the EC would decide on the matter after examining the demand and activities of the two police officials. “I have told them that decision in this regard will be taken in consultation with every member of the commission,” he said.

Nurul Huda also said that the BNP delegation had informed the EC that many of its leaders and activists were arrested unlawfully in Khulna.

Earlier, BNP leader Dr Moin Khan told reporters they had demanded withdrawal of the KMP commissioner and Gazipur SP as law enforcers were intimidating their candidates, leaders and activists without any reason. “We didn’t violate any law, but police is intimidating us,” he added. The BNP leader said police in Khulna and Gazipur suddenly became aggressive on opposition leaders and activists.

He also alleged that 19 BNP leaders and activists had been arrested in Khulna. Meanwhile, speaking at a meeting at Jatiya Press Club, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the government to resolve the present political crisis by holding talks with other political parties.

“We’re not saying that all our demands have to do be accepted. Sit for talks and resolve the existing problems before the polls,” he said. A BFUJ faction and DUJ faction organised the discussion at National Press Club to mark World Press Freedom Day.

The BNP leader said the government would come tumbling down if journalists got united for their demands including media freedom.

Earlier, speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also demanded immediate withdrawal of the KMP commissioner and Gazipur SP for holding the upcoming civic polls in a free and fair manner.