Staff Reporter :
BNP on Saturday asked the government to hold the ruling party cadres under control protesting recent attack on Iftar party of Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNP Standing Committee member in Narsingdi.
BNP’s current spokesman and its International Affairs Secretary Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon made the demand at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the city. He condemned the attack on a non-political programme like Iftar party and warned against repetition.
The ruling party men and its front body cadres vandalized the Iftar party organised at the premises of Tringa Girls’ High School at Polash Upazila in Narsingdi on Friday. At least 15 people were injured, while ruling party men snatched about 1000 packets of Iftar items.
The BNP leader also demanded resignation of Chief Election Commissioner and four other commissioners claiming they were responsible for undermining Commission’s credibility as foreign donors – a sign of their no-confidence in the current government’s election management by withdrawing funds for an EC project.
He said, “The countrymen have no confidence in the current regime and so does the international community. UNDP has pulled out its fund for an EC project titled ‘Strengthening Election Management in Bangladesh’ much before the scheduled closure citing reasons for withdrawal of funds by donors. ‘EC’s partial role has been established,” he said.
Dr Ripon said the donors got disappointed witnessing irregularities and manipulation in the city polls of April 28. “The UNDP and the EU had requested the EC to look into the incidents, but neither the government nor the Commission pay heed the allegations.”
Terming the current Election Commission as a puppet of the government, he said that the EC has lost its all credibility to hold any free and fair election. He asked the government to reconstitute the EC in consultation with all the registered parties and civil society members.
The BNP’s spokesman criticised Health Minister Mohammad Nasim for his comment that Khalea Zia’s politics is now limited to Ladies Club. “Your government have kept BNP politics indoor.
