There are no BNP candidates in 114 unions in the first phase of the upcoming Union Parisad elections, said the party Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed on Friday.
"Creation of obstacle and threatening the candidates by the ruling party men and cancellation of nomination papers by the returning officers, precluded submission of nomination papers by BNP candidates in at least 114 unions in the first phase of the UP polls," Rizvi said at a press briefing at the party central office at Nayapaltan.
He alleged, "The Election Commission (EC) is adamant to see the ruling party candidates win in the elections and such an incident is unprecedented in the country."
Vote is the main element in the democracy but the EC's contribution to arranging polls without vote of
the people will be remembered
forever, the BNP leader added.
Rizvi also alleged that an election commission subservient to the government has ruined the election system of the country by holding such elections.
Criticising the commission's plan for the reducing members of the law enforcement agencies, he said, "We have informed that the Election Commission is planning for reducing members of the law enforcement agencies and relaxing the directives."
"The reason behind the plan is clear. It is a big conspiracy to ensure victory for the ruling party candidates through the farcical election," Rizvi said.
The first phase of the UP polls in 738 unions is scheduled to be held on March 15. Of the unions, BNP candidates did not submit nominations papers in 83 and after the scrutinising by the returning officers concerned, nomination papers of 31 other candidates were scrapped.
As a result, on average there is one BNP candidate in every seven contenders in the polls. But the BNP refused to accept its organizational weakness.
BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy told the Daily Observer, "There are many candidates but all did not express their interest in contesting the polls because of fearing of cases and harassment."
"They also think that contesting the polls is only wastage of money. The supporters, who will work for the BNP candidates, will have to face repression. These are the real scenario of the polls," he added.
BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman alleged, "It is not true that BNP has failed to submit nomination papers in many unions for organisational weakness but realising the victory of the BNP candidates, the government is terrorising across the country."
"Knowing that there is no possibility  of holding free and fair election, BNP is contesting the polls to interact with the people," the BNP leader added.