Dhaka, Dec 27 (UNB) – The Awami League on Thursday said the BNP and its allies were conspiring to impede the national polls realising that they would be defeated in the election.

“They will be involved in more horrifying conspiracies in coming days,” Awami League Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman told a press conference at AL president’s political office in Dhanmondi.

He asked the people to be careful, saying that the BNP and its allies – Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Oikyafront – can also trigger violence and anarchism across the country.

“Everyone knows what they (BNP-Jamaat alliance) did in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The people fought back against their terrorist activities in the past and will do so in the future,” he said replying to a question.

Rahman said there was a festive atmosphere among the voters ahead of the December 30 election and accused the BNP of looking for ways to boycott the polls.

The AL leader alleged that the BNP-led alliance was continuing attacks on ruling party supporters and candidates.

But the BNP has been accusing AL of attacking its campaigns. “It is very unfortunate that these attacks are being sponsored by the state itself,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in the morning. He claimed that the incumbent government was incapable of holding a fair election.

Rahman, replying to Fakhrul’s comments, said the remarks were the BNP’s political statement. “They have refrained from postering and are not even reaching out to the people to prove their validity of their claims. They should remember that the election is being held under an independent Election Commission,” he said.

The BNP has accused the EC of being subservient to the government while the Oikyafront has called for the removal of the chief election commissioner.

Dhaka, Dec 27 (UNB) – The High Court on Thursday cleared the way for 25 Jamaat-e-Islami leaders to contest the 11th parliamentary elections as it declined  to direct the Election Commission to treat the Jamaat men disqualified for contesting the election.

However, the HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam issued a rule asking the government to explain why the letter of Election Commission saying that there is no scope to cancel the candidature of the 25 Jamaat-e-Islami leaders should not be declared illegal.

Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajol, a counsel of the Jamaat leaders, said following the HC order there will be no bar for the Jamaat leaders from contesting the upcoming election.

Earlier on Thursday, a writ petition was filed with the High Court challenging the Election Commission’s decision to approve the candidacies of 25 Jamaat-e-Islami leaders for the upcoming 11th general election. 

Barrister Tania Amir filed the petition on behalf of four people including Bangladesh Tarikat Federation Secretary General Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri.

The petition was filed as a supplementary writ challenging the EC’s decision that rejected an application for cancellation of the Jamaat leaders’ candidacy.

Earlier on Sunday, the Election Commission (EC) declared that 25 Jamaat-e-Islami leaders can be there in the election race as the Commission has no authority to revoke their candidatures since they are contesting the polls as BNP and independent candidates as it has no legal jurisdiction to annul their candidacies.

Of the 25 candidates, 22 are contesting the election with Sheaf of Paddy while the rest are independent ones.

On December 18, the High Court asked the EC to dispose of the application filed for cancelling the candidacies of 25 Jamaat-e-Islami men by three working days.

Four individuals filed a writ with the High Court challenging the eligibility of those candidates to remain there in the election race.
 

Dhaka, Dec 27 (UNB)-Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) President SM Abul Kalam Azad on Thursday claimed the 11th parliamentary election is being held under a partisan government, not the Election Commission (EC).

“Our supporters, voters, activists are feeling insecure,” he told journalists after attending a meeting with Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed at city's Nirbachan Bhaban.

“Our constitution says an election will be held under the Election Commission. But, we don't see it,” he claimed adding, "The Election Commission is heavily influenced by ruling party.”

Abul Kalam also claimed a total of 55 BNF candidates came under attacks carried out by Awami League and Oikyafront men.

“We want to stay in the election till the last day, but it should be held under a neutral Election Commission," he said.

Dhaka, Dec 26 (UNB) – BNP leaders of Khulna and Naogaon districts on Wednesday protested the attacks on their leaders and activists alleging that AL men are filing false cases against them and threatening voters of not casting votes on December 30.

AL men are attacking BNP supporters, threatening them going door to door, creating an appalling environment in the constituency with the aim of keeping BNP men away from the election, Naogaon-6 constituency BNP candidate Alamgir Kabir said while briefing a press conference at his home in Naogaon town.

He alleged that police are arresting BNP leaders and activists are filing false case against them.

At least 14 BNP leaders and activists were injured in AL attacks, he also alleged.

In Khulna, District BNP leaders protested mass arrest of their leaders and activists and harassment by police, spreading terror by the AL men.

Leaders and activists of Awami League are carrying out attacks on BNP and Oikyafront men in presence of the security enforces, they claimed at a press conference at KD Ghosh road in Khulna city on Wednesday.

Noakhali, Dec 26 (UNB) – BNP standing committee member and party contestant from Noakhali-5 constituency Barrister Moudud Ahmed on Wednesday said democracy will be killed if people cannot cast their votes in the December-30 election.

“It’s not an election. There’s a reign of terror everywhere. If this situation continues, people will lose their trust in election,” he said while addressing a press conference at his Manikpur village in Companiganj upazila.

He, however, said Sheaf of Paddy candidates will come out victorious all over the country if voters can exercise their franchise on the election day.

Moudud also claimed that the deployment of the armed forces members could not contribute to improving the situation.

He said they will be in the election race till the last moment no matter what happens. “Let the people of the country and the international community see how an election is held under a partisan government. This had been a great opportunity for Awami League to prove that a fair election is possible under a party government.”