No level-playing field in Rangpur city polls: Rizvi

Agencies | Published: December 07, 2017 15:09:36 | Updated: December 09, 2017 12:24:45

The Election Commission is giving the ruling party mayoral candidate an edge over others in Rangpur city corporation election, the BNP has said.

That means the polls fall short of a level playing field, said the party’s senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday.

“The Election Commission is not taking any action against the Awami League candidate despite repeated electoral violations, but it is regularly warning the BNP’s aspirant,” he said.

The BNP leader also alleged that voters have got panicked as the ruling party leaders are trying to establish their supremacy in the polling areas.

“Under the circumstances, we’re in serious doubt whether the election will be fair and neutral one,” he observed.

The senior BNP leader demanded that the EC create a healthy atmosphere in Rangpur for a fair balloting, and deploy army with magistracy power.

Rizvi further alleged that the ruling party men are trying to intimidate voters and harass the BNP candidate and his supporters using the administration.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said in last month that the Commission is considering the city corporation polls as a litmus test ahead of the next general election by January, 2019.

The current Election Commission (EC) held the Comilla city polls in March after taking office in February. Rangpur City Corporation election will be the second city vote conducted under its authority.