BNP demands postponement of six elections

BNP yesterday demanded postponement of elections to Chattogram City Corporation and five other by-polls, in light of the spread of novel coronavirus in the country.

The party also demanded that courts of the country be closed as long as required.

"The decision of holding election is unexpected. People expected that the Election Commission would behave humanely, but their behaviour is inhuman," said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the party, during a press conference at party chairperson's Gulshan office.

By-elections to vacant seats of Dhaka-10, Bagerhat-4 and Gaibandha-3 are scheduled to be held tomorrow, while Chattogram City Corporation elections, as well as by-polls to Bagura-1 and Jashore-6 would be held on March 29.

"We urge the Election Commission to withdraw its decision [of holding polls] for the sake of people. We are requesting to postpone the election; election dates can be announced later," he said.

Fakhrul said at the last election, voter turnout was not more than eight to nine percent, and it is "easily understandable" what the turnout would be in the upcoming elections.

The BNP leader said huge number of people gathered in the court premises and in most cases people came to the court on false cases.

"We came to know that already 30 judges have gone in quarantine. As a large number of people gather at the courts, the risk there is huge," he said.

"We expect that Supreme Court justices will take decision considering the welfare of the people of the country."