'BNP turning into another Awami League': 2 reasons why Bangladesh's National Citizens' Party is protesting against election panel
Hundreds of protesters belonging to the National Citizens' Party (NCP) agitated in front of the Election Commission (EC) headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, demanding a rejig in the poll panel and calling for early local government elections.
The demonstration began around 11.30 am but by 1.30 pm the protesters tried to break in through the main gate of poll panel's headquarters. The protesters were also joined by around 20 rickshaw-pullers in solidarity.
NCP Joint Convenor Sarwar Tushar said they want the existing Election Commission to be reconstituted, saying it is “biased”. Reiterating their second demand, Tushar said the local government elections should be held before the national elections.
NCP leaders pointed out that in the absence of local public representatives, several crucial citizen services have been disrupted. Since government administrative offices are occupied by one party, the protesters have raised concerns about potential election rigging during the national elections. Hence they said they would not allow national elections before the local polls.
Some of the protesters the Bangladesh National Party is now trying to turn itself into another Awami League by monopolising and looting the citizens. “One party has looted the country for 17 years, and now another dreams of taking power overnight,” The Daily Star quoted one of the protesters as saying.
Tushar slammed the election commission for not appealing the court verdict on Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor election of BNP's Ishraq Hossain in a higher court. He alleged that instead of staying neutral, the poll panel sided with the BNP by publishing the official gazette in the middle of the night.
"This Election Commission can no longer be called a constitutional body. It has become a political institution," Tushar added.
On the other hand, BNP leader Ishraq Hossain alleged that some people in the interim government has been trying to stop him from assuming the mayoral office in a bid to influence the national elections.
The Dhaka High Court is expected to issue an order on Thursday regarding a writ petition seeking stay on Election Commission's decision to declare Ishraq as DSCC mayor.
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