NCP won’t run in any polls under current EC

Leaders of the National Citizen Party yesterday said they would not take part in any polls under the current Election Commission.

Accusing the EC of bias and terming it a "party office" of the BNP, they demanded its reconstitution.

Addressing a rally, NCP's Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari stated that the party would stage protests to force the resignations of Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, and Law Adviser Asif Nazrul.

He alleged that their mismanagement was causing the downfall of the finance, law, and other ministries.

The NCP leader was speaking at the rally in front of EC on the demands, including reconstructing the commission and holding local government polls.

Before the rally, the NCP leaders and activists held a sit-in for two hours.

Patwari said the current EC is illegal as it was formed under the law enacted by the Awami League regime, which was rejected by all anti-fascist political parties and groups during the mass uprising.

He added that when the search committee was formed to constitute the present EC, they opposed the use of the existing law.

During the demonstration, Patwari said retaining individuals who have deprived people of their voting rights for the past 16 years makes free and fair elections impossible.

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No opinion on reconstitution, commission working neutrally: EC Sanaullah

"Legal action must be taken against those who helped rig votes during the autocratic regime."

Referring to BNP's 31-point charter, Patwari said the reconstitution of constitutional institutions is mentioned there. "But once you got your own people into the institutions, you forgot about the reform.

"BNP leaders like Salahuddin want to uphold the 'Mujibist constitution'. They want to hand over Bangladesh to India."

He alleged that when Prof Wahiduddin was the education adviser, he worked to "sink" education in Bangladesh. He also claimed that Salehuddin and Asif Nazrul were now working to "sink" the financial sector and law ministry, respectively.

"If this continues, we will be forced to start a movement to make them resign," he added.

Regarding the July declaration, he said, "Asif Nazrul had told us that he would make the declaration. He has committed an act of treachery. If there is any further deception, I don't know whether Asif Nazrul will remain in Bangladesh."

"We are waiting for the declaration, for the restructuring of the Election Commission, for local body elections, for Constituent Assembly elections, and for a beautiful Bangladesh."

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said they have no opinion on the EC's reconstitution, as it is a political matter.

He also claimed that they were working in a "completely neutral manner".

It entirely depends on the government whether the national election will be held first or the local government polls, he said while talking to reporters after a meeting of election commissioners.