Staff Reporter :The BNP has blamed the Election Commission (EC) for the violence, killings and casualties during the polls to Union Parishads held on Tuesday and ahead of the polls. The party in a press briefing at its Nayapaltan central office in the city on Thursday once again demanded resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commissioners of the current EC for their failure to hold fair and peaceful election.Speaking in the briefing, BNP’s Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed claimed that at least 22 people, including three candidates, were killed centering the first phase of the UP polls. They were killed in police, RAB and BGB firings, and Awami League cadres’ heinous attacks until March 22 since the announcement of the schedule for the first phase of UP elections, he said.Rizvi Ahmed said, “The EC is responsible for huge casualties, as it has done nothing other than issuing statements. Had the commission taken proper steps using its power, so many people wouldn’t have lost their lives. So, the failure of EC has to resign.”He also said that such violence and barbarity took place only for ignoring public opinions. “The EC has turned into an aimless derailed institution. The killing of huge people, violence and maiming of many others don’t raise EC’s conscience, as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Commissioners work only to protect their jobs,” he added. The BNP leader, on behalf of his party, prayed for salvation of the departed souls and demanded exemplary punishment to those involved in the killings and violence.Stating that election violence continues, he alleged that the ruling party’s cadres are attacking and repressing the opposition leaders and activists, torching their houses, plundering their valuables. “An appalling situation prevails in the election areas till now,” he claimed. Questioning the CEC’s sanity, Rizvi Ahmed said, “Before the polls, CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad complained of not getting the administration’s cooperation. He then said the law enforcers would be liable if clashes erupted. The same person now says that it was a free and fair election. It seems that he suffers from mental problems.”
