Cast your vote even if it requires conflict: Moudud
BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed yesterday urged the leaders and activists of the party and alliances to get ready for a difficult struggle on election day.
“It's our last chance and the last test. You'll have to cast your votes… if necessary by engaging in conflict. That means you'll have to go to voting centres and cast your votes by resisting those who will obstruct you. We have no other choice,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said, “Your victory is certain if you can go to polling stations along with voters of the “sheaf of paddy” by putting up counter-resistance against those who will try to stop you.”
Nagorik Odhikar Andolon, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka, marking BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's 54th birthday.
Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, said the government has become desperate to win the election by any means as its intelligence reports suggest that “the ruling party has no chance to come out successful as BNP and its allies are in the race.”
“The government's blueprints and evil designs will fall apart with the wave of people in favour of the 'sheaf of paddy',” the BNP leader said.
He came down hard on the Election Commission (EC) for its “failure” to ensure a level-playing field, and said the commission has turned into a “toothless organisation of the ruling party”.
Moudud said their party leaders and activists are arrested regularly while many of them cannot stay at home due to harassment by police, even after the announcement of the election schedule.
“The prime minister promised to stop it, but hundreds of our leaders and activists are being arrested every day,” he claimed. He said no official of the civil and police administrations has so far been transferred as the government and the EC are working with the same goal to ensure the victory of Awami League.
He said the prime minister held a meeting with returning officers recently, but the commission did not register its protest against it.
Moudud warned that Bangladesh will turn into a “failed state” if the EC fails to hold a fair election this time.
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