BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday expressed doubt over the possibility of a truly free and fair election, alleging that the ‘allies’ of the previous government are engaged in various plots to obstruct the process.
“Still, we have doubts about a free and fair election. How much of it is actually possible to do (hold a free and fair election). How much can it be done? We have asked them (Election Commission) whether it has that capacity,” he told reporters after separate meetings with election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud and Md Anwarul Islam Sarker at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member and former secretary Ismail Jabiullah accompanied him at the meetings.
The BNP delegation specifically discussed constituency delimitation issues with Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker, who is in charge of the process.
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In response to their questions, the EC assured them of the EC’s full preparations (for holding a free and fair election), Rizvi said.
The BNP leader, however, voiced concerns about the presence of what he described as “accomplices” (of Awami League government) at different levels of the administration, including the EC’s administration.
“These accomplices are engaged in various tactics and far-reaching conspiracies to disrupt a free and fair election, or even to prevent it from being held,” he said, adding that although the EC is an independent constitutional body, it is also an administration.
“We wanted to know what kind of role the ‘allies’ are playing here and if they were creating any kind of obstacles,” he said.
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Rizvi said the EC assured them that they are overseeing it properly and carefully to ensure transparency so that the election in no way can be disrupted and stigmatised, citing that the Election Commission is confident enough that it is making the necessary preparations for a fair election.
The BNP leader, however, said the current EC has no lack of sincerity to arrange free and fair elections.
“We hope this Commission will be able to conduct a free, fair and inclusive election with participation of all. So far, I have not found any lack of sincerity on their part,” he said replying to a question.
On the issue of introducing proportional representation (PR), Rizvi said his party believes it is not feasible at the moment. “Our leaders have conveyed this to the EC in detail. The Election Commission is carrying out its constitutional responsibilities,” he added.
Rizvi said BNP sought updates about voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis.
“We wanted to know about the progress of enabling expatriates to cast their votes. The EC informed us they are working on the possibility of postal ballots for them,” he said.
Commenting on Saturday’s attack on former Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Nurul Haque Nur, Rizvi strongly condemned the incident.
Nur is a known political figure who played a role in anti-fascist movements. Such an attack on a responsible political leader is condemnable and unacceptable in a democratic country, said the BNP leader.