'BNP will stay in Bhola-3 by-polls'

The BNP will stay in the Bhola-3 by-election unless they are 'kicked out', the party's Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said yesterday.
The party will not pull out of the April 24 fray, he said at a press briefing at the party's central office at Naya Paltan in the city when the reporters wanted to know the party's stance following BNP candidate Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed's request to defer the by-election by a week.
Delwar, however, termed Hafiz's demand logical, saying that illegal arms still remains in the wrong hands in Bhola-3 constituency (Lalmohan-Tojumuddin), which need to be recovered to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.
He also warned that consequences will 'not be good' if the Election Commission wants to manipulate the election.
In this regard, Delwar reminded newsmen of the consequences of the Magura by-election in 1994.
Terming the Election Commission an agent of the government, he said the EC is busy implementing the blueprint of the government in Bhola-3 to ensure a win for the ruling party candidate.
He said the AL is trying to prove some level of popularity by snatching the win in the election through terrorism and rigging and using the administration.
Delwar alleged that a group of journalists have formed a 'syndicate' and are making reports in favour of a party (the ruling party). A more serious allegation from him was that many criminals and activists of the ruling party had disguised themselves as journalists and become election observers.