The BNP-nominated mayoral candidate in Khulna City Corporation (KCC) polls yesterday suspended his election campaign for around four hours in protest of “wholesale arrest and harassment” of the party leaders and activists.

After resuming the campaign around 1:00pm, BNP candidate Nazrul Islam Monju vowed not to leave the election field under any circumstances.

“We will not give any opportunity to the Awami League to score a goal in an empty field,” he said at a press briefing at his house.

In a sudden crackdown on BNP men early yesterday, law enforcers detained 21 leaders and activists of the party, including Khulna city unit Publicity Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Murad and Jubo Dal President Mahbub Hossain Piaru.

This prompted the BNP to come up with the demand of immediate withdrawal of Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Humayun Kabir.

Yesterday, the party also demanded that the Election Commission take prompt measures to withdraw Superintendent of Gazipur Police Harun Ar Rashid for holding a free and fair election in the two cities. 

A four-member BNP delegation, led by party's Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan, placed the demands at a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and other election commissioners in the capital's Nirbachan Bhaban.

The team also raised doubts over holding elections in the two cities in a free and fair manner.

“The situation in Gazipur and Khulna city corporations was normal even after announcement of the election schedule. But in the last two days, we saw that police arrested our leaders and activists involved in the campaigns,” Moyeen Khan told reporters after the two-hour meeting.

“Police are intimidating and harassing our people. Two standing committee members of the BNP have gone to Khulna for taking part in election campaigns of the party-nominated candidate. But police have apparently cordoned off the hotel where they are staying. Police have also taken position on every floor [of the hotel].”

Moyeen said the EC is the supreme authority to look after law and order after the election schedule is announced. “But how could the polls be held in a free and fair manner if police create problems in the name of maintaining law and order, intimidate BNP leaders and activists and create obstacles to election campaigns?”

“The police commissioner will have to take responsibility for the present situation in Khulna,” he added.

Pointing to recent arrests of BNP men in Gazipur, Moyeen said they were worried as police were arresting the opposition men, terming them outsiders. “For the sake of a fair election, we have demanded withdrawal of Gazipur SP.”

Asked whether the EC had given them any assurance, Moyeen said it was not a matter of assurance. “It is their constitutional obligation to take steps in this regard. We hope the Election Commission will carry out their responsibility properly.”

CEC'S COMMENTS

After the meeting with the BNP delegation, CEC Nurul Huda told reporters that BNP's allegation of creating obstacles to polls campaign was not correct as they had no such information. 

On the BNP's demand of withdrawing Khulna metropolitan police commissioner and Gazipur SP, he said, “I will have to consult all the election commissioners before taking a decision on this issue. We will fulfil their demand if it is found logical.”

BRIEFING

In the briefing, Monju said a few days ago, AL leaders Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Sheikh Helal held a meeting with top government and police officials while visiting Khulna.

He alleged that police launched the sudden crackdown on BNP men following the directives of Hanif and Helal.

After the press conference, Monju submitted a memorandum to the returning officer of KCC polls, demanding release of all BNP men to ensure a level-playing field for all contestants.  

The BNP mayoral candidate also threatened that if the level-playing field was not ensured in the election, they would boycott the meeting with the CEC on May 6.

Elections in Khulna and Gazipur city corporations are scheduled to be held on May 15.

Our Khulna correspondent contributed to this story.