The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday blamed the government for massive vote rigging in the 5th phase of the Upazila elections.
BNP Vice Chairman Abdullah-al-Noman said that the rigging took place with cooperation of the administration. He was also critical of the role of govt as well as Election Commission (EC).
A pro-BNP social organisation arranged the discussion at the National Press Club. BNP chairperson’s adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Jagpa chief Shafiul Alam Prodhan also spoke at the function with Alhaj Akbar Hossain in the chair.
Noman said that the ruling party men captured polling booths with the help of law enforcers, local administration and field level polling officers in several places. Even, presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and the polling officers were involved in vote fraud in many upazilas, he alleged.
The ruling party created pressure on the local administration to manipulate the results, he said. The ruling party men drove out the polling agents of the BNP-backed candidates and stuffed ballot boxes in many polling centers, he added.
Meanwhile, BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed said that they had apprehended of massive vote rigging which has been proved, as the ruling party cadres captured polling centers with the help of law enforcers and the local administration and ensured victory of the ruling party-backed candidates.
The ruling party cadres threatened the supporters and polling agents of the BNP-backed candidates in many upazilas to stop them from going to voting centres, he alleged.
As the EC ultimately failed to ensure congenial atmosphere for free and fair election, it should resign, he said.
