BNP urges EC to cancel politically motivated polling stations

Online Desk  :   BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday called on the Election Commission (EC) to scrap polling stations allegedly established to serve the political interests of Awami League during its tenure. Speaking to reporters after paying tribute at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Rizvi said, “Polling centres set up for political purposes must be cancelled. The Election Commission should determine polling stations based on the actual population distribution. This is both our demand and expectation.” He accused Awami League, under what he termed a “fascist regime,” of manipulating electoral boundaries...

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Online Desk  :   BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday called on the Election Commission (EC) to scrap polling stations allegedly established to serve the political interests of Awami League during its tenure. Speaking to reporters after paying tribute at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Rizvi said, “Polling centres set up for political purposes must be cancelled. The Election Commission should determine polling stations based on the actual population distribution. This is both our demand and expectation.”

He accused Awami League, under what he termed a “fascist regime,” of manipulating electoral boundaries and creating polling centres to favour the party. Rizvi referenced past elections, claiming they lacked credibility. “There were three major elections; one held without voters, another conducted in the middle of night and the last one was merely a dummy election. People have not forgotten,” he remarked. Rizvi said public trust in the electoral process could only be restored if the Election Commission and an interim government ensure a free, fair and credible general election scheduled for February. He stressed that a neutral election was essential to encourage voter participation after nearly two decades of what he called compromised polls.

He further urged the EC to ensure a safe and impartial electoral environment where voters can cast their ballots without fear or obstruction. Marking the 45th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, BNP’s voluntary affairs wing, Rizvi along with party members laid a floral wreath and offered prayers at Ziaur Rahman’s grave. Addressing recent developments at Dhaka University, Rizvi alleged that BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, faced obstruction while attempting to collect nomination papers for the upcoming DUCSU election.

“A mob was created to stop Chhatra Dal. Why is mob culture being allowed to grow across the country under the interim government?” he questioned, pointing to rising lawlessness and recent incidents in Rangpur’s Taraganj. Turning to financial issues, Rizvi criticised both the current and former governments for allowing large-scale rescheduling of defaulted loans. He claimed that under Sheikh Hasina’s rule, loan defaulters were permitted to reschedule Tk 3.5 lakh crore in bad loans, while Tk 1.5 lakh crore has been rescheduled under the interim authority. He demanded the arrest of individuals responsible for major financial scandals, naming former minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and businessman Nafiz Sarafat in connection with alleged embezzlement involving Farmers Bank and Padma Bank.

“Those who looted public money must be brought to justice,” he said, urging strong government action to recover the stolen funds.

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