“Whether we’ll remain there in the election depends on the behaviour of the Election Commission and the election-time government,” he said.
The BNP leader came up with the comment while talking to reporters after nearly a two-hour meeting between Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikyafront delegation and the Election Commission at Nirbachan Bhaban.
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, other election commissioners and the EC Secretary were present at the meeting.
Replying to a query, the BNP leader said, “The sign they are demonstrating in their behaviour is not good at all.”
Asked what the EC told them about their election deferment demand, Fakhrul said they demanded the election be delayed by three weeks. “The Commission said they will discuss it at their meeting and take their decision later.”
He said they asked the Election Commission not to use even a single electronic voting machine (EVM) in the national election. In reply, Fakhrul said, the Commission informed them that it was thinking about limited EVM use in city areas. “They (EC) said if we (Oikyafront) can convince them that the EVM system is not completely secure, they’ll consider it,” he said.
About army deployment, the EC told the Oikyafront leaders that it has already decided to engage the Armed Forces as striking forces in the election, Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader said the EC will also consider whether army can be deployed in every polling station as per Oikyafront’s demand.
He said the Commission sought the list of ‘fictitious’ cases filed against BNP leaders and activists when a demand was placed to withdraw such cases.
The Commission assured them of positively considering Okiyafront’s demand that EC issue directives to police and other authorities concerned asking them not to arrest anyone with political motive.
The Oikyafront leaders demanded reshuffling the public administration and police, providing security to their election agents and release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.
In reply, the Commission assured them of looking into the matters, Fakhrul said.
Dr Kamal Hossain said the Commission has assured them of ensuring a free, fair and credible election. “I hope they’ll live up to their commitment.”
“They (EC) promised that they would help and cooperate with us so that a free, fair and neutral election can be held,” he said.
Dr Kamal also said they told the Commission that the Constitution entrusted them with the special responsibility to conduct a free and neutral election. “We all also have the responsibility to cooperate with each other to this end (to conduct the election in free and neutral manners),” he said.
The Oikyafront chief said they raised their questions and allegations at the meeting and the Commission answered to those in details. “We’re happy that they listened to our all questions with patience and tried to answer theses,” Dr Kamal said expressing the hope that they will also get the same cooperation from the EC in the remaining days during the election.
He said the Commission regretted what happened in front of the BNP central office on Wednesday.
The meeting that began around 3:30 pm continued till 5:25pm.
The other Oikyafront delegation members include Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Kader Siddiqui, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Sultan Muhammed Mansur Ahmed, Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Abdul Malek Ratan and SM Akram.
However, JSD chief ASM Abdur Rab did not join the meeting for his illness, said BNP Chairperson’s press wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.