'New date announced to avoid foreign observers'

Main opposition BNP has alleged that the general election date was fixed on 30 December so that the government can skip foreign election observers' participation in the polls, reports UNB.

"The election date has been set on 30 December so that foreign observers can't stay here and monitor the polls," said Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general Rizvi Ahmed on Tuesday.

He added that the foreign observers, ambassadors, high commissioners and officials of different countries would be on leave on the occasion of Christmas , 31st and New Year.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP's Naya Paltan central office, Rizvi renewed their demand for deferring the election schedule by a month. "A fresh schedule must be announced further and a level-playing field will have to be created for all the political parties."

Amid demand from opposition political parties, the Election Commission on Monday deferred the 11th national election to 30 December from 23 December.

Rizvi criticised the Election Commission (EC) for its decision on using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in 80-100 constituencies, saying it is part of a 'master plan of vote rigging'.

He urged the EC to retreat from its decision of using the EVMs for the sake of holding a credible election.

The BNP leader alleged that their party's ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept in jail only to minus her from election and politics out of vengeance.

He demanded Khaleda be freed immediately without any condition.

Rizvi said law enforcers have continued arresting their party leaders and activists in false cases and raiding their houses as the EC has failed to ensure a minimum election atmosphere.

Like the previous day, huge BNP nomination hopefuls from across the country started gathering in front of the party office since early morning along with their thousands of supporters to collect nomination papers.

The party started the sale of the nomination papers around 10:00am on the second day today.

According to the party sources, a total of 1,326 forms were sold on the first day on Monday. Each nomination seeker has to pay Tk 5,000 to buy the form.

The aspirants can collect the nomination form until 16 November as the deadline has been extended by two more days.