UNB, Dhaka :BNP on Sunday demanded the Election Commission defer the elections to 236 municipalities by 15 days. “The Election Commission announced the election schedule hurriedly. We demand deferment of the voting date by at least 15 days and amend the relevant law, if necessary, so that some 50 lakh young people who will become voters in January, can cast their votes,” BNP chairperson’ s adviser Osman Faruque told reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.A five-member BNP team, led by its Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser Osman Faruque, held the meeting at the CEC’s office around 2pm. Others members of the delegation are Khaleda Zia’s advisers Shamsuzzaman Dudu, SM Abdul Halim and Captain (retd) Sujauddin Ahmed , and Judo Dal president Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal.Faruque said they discussed the polls-related issues and urged the commission to create a level-playing field by stopping the wholesale arrest of BNP leaders and activists, and also demanded the unconditional release of the detained party men, including its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.They also demanded the EC not to allow Ministers, MPs and government officials to participate in election campaigns so that they cannot influence the election, he said.In reply, Faruque said the CEC told them that they will take necessary steps for holding the elections in a free and fair manner.Responding to another question whether BNP will take part in the elections if its demands are not met, the BNP leader said they will decide about it later.
