Terming the Election Commission “incapable, submissive and spineless”, BNP Spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon today said it will not be able to hold upcoming municipality polls in a free and fair manner.

“We have submitted several proposals to the commission ahead of the municipality elections. But we sadly observed that the commission did not take any measures to resolve the issues,” Ripon told a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office this afternoon.

Citing the party’s demand for deferring the election by 15 days, BNP spokesperson said if the commission had accepted it, more 50 lakh voters would have cast their votes.

The BNP on November 27 announced that it would contest the December 30 municipality polls on certain conditions, including deferral of the polls by 15 days.

The commission however turned down the demand to defer the polls.

The party also demanded a reschedule of the polls, release of party men from jail and an end to the arrests of its activists across the country. It also demanded that a level-playing field be created for a free and fair poll.