The BNP has decided not to retreat from the ongoing union parishad polls at this moment despite alleging massive irregularities, vote rigging, violence and bloodshed as the party wants to go till the end in a bid to expose the Election Commission and the government’s apathy to the situation. The party high command took the decision yesterday after holding a series of meetings with senior party leaders, leaders of the 20 party alliance and exchanging views with the grassroots level, said party sources.
“We have taken part in the UP elections as part of our movement to restore the democracy. We will also participate in the next phases of polls as well,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while briefing reporters after a meeting of the 20-party alliance at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office yesterday night.
The BNP leader, however, said that they would take necessary steps after evaluating the next phases of polls.
“We are still in the UP polls race and we will stay to participate in it. We want to see how the EC could show apathy to the situation,” he said, adding, “We will take our next decision after observing the next phases,” he added.
He also urged law enforcers and the administration to play their impartial roles during the polls.
The party high-ups had earlier shown their inclination to boycott the polls as they felt that the party’s symbol, the sheaf of paddy, is being humiliated as the votes and victories of the party candidates are snatched away through violence.
The BNP repeatedly alleged that the ruling party activists obstructed their candidates in submitting nominations, made threats to candidates and snatched their victories by forcibly taking control of polling centres. In such a situation, the party chairperson had initially opined to boycott the polls after discussing the issue of participation in the election, said the leaders.
The party however shifted from its earlier stance of boycotting the polls following strong opinion both from within and outside the party, including allies, intellectuals and well-wishers.
“Despite having differences of opinion among the party’s rank and file over participating in the UP polls, the party high commend wants to stay in the polls at least in the third and fourth phases to observe whether the government and the EC change their minds,” said a senior BNP leader preferring anonymity.
He said the party high commend has already asked the concerned leaders to start the procedures to issue nomination against party candidates from today for the fourth phase of polls.
Out of six phases, elections of first two phases have already taken place while the third phase polls to 685 UPs will be held on Apr 23 and 4th phase to 713 UPs on May 7.