BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said the suspension of the by-polls to Gaibandha-5 seat over alleged malpractices has proved that credible election is not possible under a partisan government.
“The Election Commission could not conduct a fair election in Gaibandha despite exerting all its powers. That’s why they suspended the polls themselves,” he said.
Talking to reporters at the Thakurgaon district unit BNP office, he said they have long been saying that a fair election is never possible under a partisan-government. “This (Gaibandha) election has proved true what we have been saying for a long time.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the by-election to the Gainbandha-5 parliamentary seat over widespread allegations of vote rigging and voter intimidation.
As per Section 91 (a) of the RPO, the EC can stop the election at any polling station or the entire constituency at any stage, if it is convinced that it shall not be able to ensure the conduct of the election “justly, fairly and in accordance with law “ because of “malpractices” including coercion, intimidation and pressures.
Fakhrul said they are least bothered about what happened in the by-polls as the election system in the country was destroyed by the current regime.
He also alleged that the Awami League government also put the entire nation in danger by obliterating democracy. They have also turned the country into a failed state.”
The BNP leader said the only way to ensure a credible national election is to establish a non-party caretaker government by removing the current regime.
“That is why we’ve started our second phase of movement from Chattogram. There was a massive gathering of lakhs of people there (Chattogram). The movement started from that rally, he said.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the Gaibandha by-election has sent out a message that no election can be fair and neutral under the Awami League government. “In this case, the Election Commission is not important. What matters is which government is in power at the time of the election.”
The BNP leader also said the people of Chottagram have given a message from their party’s rally on Wednesday that the movement to overthrow the current government has begun. “From here the movement will spread all over Bangladesh and this regime will be forced to resign in a very short time.”
Source: United News of Bangladesh