Mony's camp accuses Khaleque of 'buying votes'

Oikyoboddho Nagorik Forum, a pro-BNP citizens' body backing mayoral candidate Moniruzzaman Mony in the June 15 Khulna City Corporation (KCC) polls, yesterday accused another candidate, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, of distributing “black money to buy voters”.
The forum Coordinator Nazrul Islam Monzu MP also accused central Awami League leaders of threatening financially insolvent voters of reprisals if votes were not cast in Khaleque's favour.
Nazrul also demanded that the Anti-Corruption Commission conduct a probe into KCC's irregularities in the past five years.
The allegations were yet to be placed before the regional Election Commission, he told a press briefing in one of Mony's campaign centres in Khulna city's Udayan Club.
The claims were baseless, said outgoing mayor Khaleque, the Khulna city unit Awami League president being backed by the ruling 14-party alliance and Sammilita Nagorik Committee.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, he urged the forum to prove the claims.
Nazrul also accused the regional EC of not paying heed to their three previous demands.
Returning Officer Mostofa Faruqe said they were going through the demands.