Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said that the government might have brought major changes in the district and police administrations as part of an 'evil plan' to hold snap polls.
The party apprehended this on Monday saying that the government wants to shape the election field for ruling Awami League to hold snap polls keeping Khaleda Zia out of the race.
Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, "The government's accomplice HM Ershad a few days back said that the election would be held before its schedule. Twenty-two DCs and 29 SPs were appointed and transferred on Sunday. A smokescreen has been created among people that whether it is a sign of early election."
UNB said he was speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office.
Mr Rizvi further said, "Many questions have arisen in public mind as it was not a routine reshuffle. It seems they've an evil design behind it. As it's the election year, they're trying to create an election field in Awami style."
He warned there will be no use of making the election field in favour of Awami League as people will resist any move to hold the election without Khaleda Zia.
The government on Sunday appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) to 22 districts and also transferred and designated new jobs for 29 superintendents of police (SPs).
Mr Rizvi criticised Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for advising BNP to hold indoor programmes instead of taking to the streets, saying he is talking like a zonal marshal administrator.
"When marshal law is enforced, political parties are advised to hold indoor programmes. He (Quader) is also talking in a similar tone. We're holding democratic programmes, and we've the right to hold outdoor programmes," he argued.
Mr Rizvi said although Awami League leaders utter the term democracy, they always hold the spirit of authoritarian and one-party Baksal in their minds.
He alleged that police obstructed their party's scheduled demonstration programmes in different parts of the country, including in Kushtia, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur and Brahmanbaria on Monday.
The BNP leader also alleged that the police arrested their party's many leaders and activists from across the country.
He also demanded that the government immediately release all their arrested leaders and followers.