“The ruling party indulged in massive violence, bloodshed and vote-rigging as before in the second phase of elections to 60 municipalities. They openly rigged votes through EVMs, the digital machines of snatching votes, after capturing voting centres everywhere,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

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Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the victory or defeat of a candidate is fixed by Gonobhaban, not by people, both in the national and local body polls during the tenure of Awami League.

“The Election Commission is now just an electoral post box of Awami League and their job is to publish the list sent by the Awami League high command. Sheikh Hasina is the mastermind of this game while the police administration is the main player,” the BNP leader said.

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He also alleged that the EC has become a puppet of the government as it has failed to play the neutral role in conducting the polls.

Rizvi alleged that Awami League used a ‘new model of deception’ in the elections to Basurhat Municipality in Noakhali’s Companygonj where ruling party secretary general Obaidul Quader’s younger brother Abdul Quader Mirza was elected mayor by creating an uproar with his recent remarks.

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“Various electoral models that 'Rakibul Huda or Nurul Huda' clique has produced through futile elections over the last decade have not faded from the memory of people…the latest discovery of the useless Commission to meet the demand of the ruling Awami League is Basurhat model,” he observed.

The BNP leader said the ruling party used Quader Mirza to implement the new model to bring some sensation in the pre-set ‘unilateral elections’. “People could realise this drama of Awami League before the polls. Basurhat Municipal election is a new model of Awami League's hypocrisy.”

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He said Quader Mirza criticised Awami League to draw media attention and thus implement the new model through staging a farce in the name of elections.

Rizvi also slammed EC senior secretary M Alamgir for his comment that huge voters spontaneously exercised their right to franchise. “Such lies can be utterer by a big shameless person who sold his soul to the government. This Commission has become the mouthpiece of the government.”

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 As always, he said, the role of the Election Commission in Saturday's municipal elections was very ‘shameless’.