BNP today urged Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad to take measures so that lawmakers cannot take part in the municipality elections campaign.

“Image of the government and the election commission will be tarnished if the lawmakers and ministers take part in the campaign and influence the polls,” BNP leader M Osman Farroque told reporters following a meeting with the CEC this afternoon.

“So, we have requested the CEC not to allow them (MPs and ministers) in election campaign,” said Farroque, who led the three-member BNP team during the one-hour meeting at EC Secretariat began around 2:00pm.

BNP also urged CEC Rakibuddin to take steps for ensuring a level-playing field in the elections by releasing its detained party leaders including Joint Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Farroque, also an adviser to the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, alleged that the commission announced the election schedule hurriedly so that his party faces difficulties in participating in the polls.

“We have urged the CEC to defer the polls for at least 15 days,” he added.

Responding to a query, the BNP leader said if the election is not deferred ultimately, the party forum will take decisions considering the public interest.

“The CEC assured us that he would take necessary steps to hold the municipality polls in a free, fair and impartial manner,” he added.