BNP candidate for Laxmipur-3 constituency Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee today said that he would welcome his party if it takes decision to quit the December 30 national election race.

“I will welcome if the election coordination committee of my party quits the polls as there is no atmosphere for the election in the country,” Anee, also publicity affairs secretary of BNP, told The Daily Star this evening.

He said the ruling party leaders and activists and the members of law enforcement agencies are engaged in carrying out terrorist activities in his electoral area.

“I could not carry out electioneering in my area. Under this situation, I informed my party that I would welcome its decision if it quits the polls,” the BNP leader said.

On Monday, Anee came under attack in Shantirhat area of Laxmipur upazila that left 30 of his followers including three journalists injured, the BNP leader alleged.

“My party men are being attacked. Even their residences are also being vandalised. The returning officer is not picking up my phone call,” he said.

The congenial atmosphere is totally absent in the area for holding the election in a free, fair and credible manner, the BNP leader said.

Anee is contesting the polls against Awami League candidate AKM Shajahan Kamal and Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Md Ibrahim.

Election Commissioner (EC) Mahbub Talukder has said a free and fair upazila parishad election will be a far cry if it is not freed from the clutch of local lawmakers.

“It is absolutely a matter of political decision,” Commissioner Talukder said after the end of the fourth phase of upazila parishad to 107 upazilas held today.

“People think, the EC has taken a strong position in the upazila parishad election,” he said.

“Voting in many centres were stopped for irregularities and stern actions were taken by law enforcement agencies during the Upazila election,” he said.

“But why similar measures were not taken during national election. If we search for an answer, we will understand the real picture of the national election,” he said.

Reflecting on the low voter turnout, he said: “Disinterest to voting is an aversion to democracy. We do not want to join mourning procession of democracy.”   

“In all three previous phases, voters appeared to be uninterested in casting ballots with the overall turnout hitting the lowest since 2009,” he said.

He also added that it is because of a wavering confidence on the Election Commission that the elections are not turning out to be participatory.

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder yesterday said he did not change his stance and reiterated that participatory polls does not necessarily equate to a fair election.

He made the remarks in a written statement to clear his stance regarding “confusion” over his comments at a programme organised to thank Election Commission (EC) officials on January 3.

At the programme, Mahbub said that the EC has held a participatory election and that created confusion.

“Several reporters asked me whether I changed my stance. So, it is necessary to clear the confusion,” he said.

“On December 17, 2018, I said a participatory election means all political parties participate in the polls. That has no connection with a free and fair election. A participatory election is a primary achievement. The main concern is whether the election is held acceptably and credibly,” Mahbub said.

“If the election is not held in an acceptable and credible manner, there will be no benefit even if it is participatory,” Mahbub said.

“I didn't say anything about the credibility and acceptance of the national election at the [January 3] programme. Reporters asked me how the election was. I had earlier said ask your conscience and you will get the answer; I am still saying that,” he said.

“I have not changed my stance,” he claimed.

“The programme on January 3 was a ceremony to give thanks. It is considered civil to thank someone with a favourable comment. It is improper to analyse my speech of thanks politically,” Mahbub said.

This is the first time the election commissioner faced the media officially after the December 30 election.

Ahead of the election, Mahbub had alleged that there is no level playing field for the polls. He issued a written statement on December 17, in which he said fairness was still absent and the words “level playing field” had become meaningless.

The next day, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda told reporters in Rangamati, “He [Mahbub] did not speak the truth. The overall election atmosphere is good.”

Mahbub, on December 19, retorted: “It must be kept in mind that the chief election commissioner and all other election commissioners are equal.”

The remarks and counter-remarks of the CEC and Mahbub hogged the headlines as the two publicly spoke against each other regarding the level playing field.

Expressing grave concern over a spate of violence ahead of December 30 polls, Mahbub on December 26 said that violence and election cannot go hand in hand.

“An election is not just about being participatory; it has to be free, fair, neutral and lawful. Besides, we will not be able to hold our heads high before the world if the election is not acceptable and credible,” he added. 

It's Gonoforam chief Dr Kamal Hossain, not Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, who should quit after accepting his failure, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday.

He made the comment while addressing an election rally at Latifunnessa High School ground in Cumilla's Chouddagram.

The Jatiya Oikyafront leader failed to demonstrate his leadership, Quader claimed.

“Dr Kamal's words are even more poisonous than formalin. Not the CEC but you [Kamal] should resign,” Quader said.

He also asked why Dr Kamal went to meet the CEC if he demanded his resignation.

People will vote for “boat”, the AL's electoral symbol, in the national elections on Sunday, Quader said.

"The alternatives to 'boat' are petrol bombs, burning people to death, torching educational institutions and vehicles, and blocking roads," he added.

Meanwhile, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, joint secretary general of the ruling AL, alleged the BNP-Jamaat-Oikyafront alliance was distributing illegal money and spreading false allegations and propagandas to destroy the congenial polls environment.

He made the allegations at a press briefing at the party president Shiekh Hasina's Dhanmondi office.

He said Rab arrested three men with Tk 8 crore in cash and Tk 10 crore in cheques on Tuesday. Of them, there were a businessman and a former employee of Hawa Bhaban.

They were carrying a full list of voters of a constituency and that area's BNP nominated candidate's poster with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's photo on it, he said.

The primary investigation suggested that the huge amount of money was intended to be distributed to instigate violence and influence polls, Nanok added.

Around Tk 150 crore was distributed across the country in the last two months, he alleged.

He also said, “Tk 200 crore was brought into the country from Dubai through hundi and illegal channels by Tarique Rahman.”

The incident hints a massive conspiracy is taking place against the country and Pakistani intelligence ISI's involvement in the upcoming polls, the AL leader further alleged.