Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has opened a Facebook page titled 'Rab Cyber News Verification Centre' to make people aware of false news and rumour spread during the upcoming general election.

Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Benazir Ahmed revealed it at a press conference regarding the elite force's preparation for the 11th parliamentary election at its media center in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar today.

If anyone becomes confused about any news, he/she will have to share it on the Facebook page and the Rab team will instantly reply it after verifying the truth, said the Rab DG.

Rab officials will work round the clock, he added.

He also said the Facebook page will remain open to counter all lies, rumours and false news centering the election slated for December 30.

A total of 10,000 Rab members have been deployed across the country ahead of the election, said the Rab DG.

"If anyone dares to carry out violence in any place, we will obstruct them and the force is ready to resist them," he added.

Two army helicopters will remain standby on the election day, he said adding, "A special force will be kept standby for travelling to any part of the country if needed."

Benazir also requested all to inform them any kind of violent incidents so that they can take instant action.

BNP today alleged that the ruling Awami League has made a “blueprint” to take its favour the results of tomorrow’s elections to 234 municipalities.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that arrest drives are still being carried out in the election areas to intimidate voters so that they do not go to polling centres.

He further said, “All voters will have to cast their ballots tomorrow with courage braving all odds and stay in the voting centres until the results are announced.”

The BNP leader also urged all to get united to ensure people’s voting rights, foiling any evil design.

Rizvi alleged that the ruling party men with the help of administration are attacking and harassing BNP candidates and their supporters in a many municipalities to intimidate voters.

At another programme, BNP chairperson’s adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain warned of dire consequences if the ruling party tries to rig votes.

He issued the warning at a protest rally of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, lawyers’ fromt of the BNP, on the Supreme Court premises in Dhaka.

The programme was held protesting the attacks on lawyers on the apex court premises on December 29, 201.

He demanded that the government ensure punishment to those who were involved in the attack.

BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed today alleged that the government is creating panic in the country by arresting BNP men ahead of the maiden partisan municipality polls scheduled for December 30.

“Through issuing threats and launching mass arrest operation against BNP men, the government wants to create panic and unstable situation in the country ahead of the municipality polls,” Rizvi made the allegation today.

Rizvi, also office secretary of BNP, was addressing a press briefing held at the party’s Nayapaltan central office this afternoon.

BNP backed mayoral aspirants are being deliberately harassed under the very nose of administration but the Election Commission is staying quiet, he alleged.

Claiming that the EC is a follower of the government, Rizvi said, “The EC will turn into a deceitful body if it continues to do so.”

The government has hatched a mega plan to banish BNP politics from the country, he claimed adding that thousands of BNP leaders and activists across the country have already been arrested intentionally.

Police today pressed charges against BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 42 others in an arson case filed with Paltan Police Station.

Sub-inspector Tabibur Rahman of Paltan Police Station, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted two separate charge sheets-one over arson and the other over hurling crude bombs-against the accused to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka this afternoon.

Mirza Fakhrul, along with 11 others including BNP leaders Rizvi Ahmed, Amanullah Aman, is on bail in the case.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia, Barkatullah Bulu, Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel are among the rest 31 who are absconding.

The IO also made an appeal to the court to issue arrest warrants against the absconding accused.

On December 29, 2014, the case was filed with Paltan Police Station after a bus carrying public administration ministry staff was set ablaze at Purana Paltan intersection around 6:00pm on December 28, 2014.