Staff Correspondent

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the final list of candidates of the party for the 11th parliamentary elections likely to be made public tonight (Wednesday).

“Hope, we’ll be able to finalise our list of candidates today and will disclose it to you after the evening,” party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Wednesday noon.

Coming down heavily on the Election Commission for what he said its failure to ensure any level-playing field, the BNP leader said, “The election is going to be a farce. Instead of taking steps for ensuring a level-playing field, they’re making efforts to worsen the situation further.”

Alleging that various obstacles are being created one after another to keep BNP away from the election, he said that the Election Commissions (EC) is issuing various notices that are not conducive to a fair election.

Fakhrul said though holding any kind of rally and election campaign before the allocation of the election symbol is prohibited, the ruling party runners are regularly holding meetings and rallies without any obstruction.

He urged the Election Commission to let people know as to why they cannot work neutrally and independently. “Or else, you should step down.”

Calling upon the Election Commission to exercise their constitutional authorities to hold the election in a fair and credible manner, the BNP secretary general said: “We would like to tell the Commission that the election will not be acceptable to all if you work as per the directives of ministers and ruling party leaders.

He alleged that the ruling party is trying to hold a one-party and lopsided election by establishing its control over all the institutions of the country.

Fakhrul said their party’s several thousand leaders and activists have been kept in jail while law enforcers are arresting many others regularly in ‘false’ cases.

He demanded the release of their chairpersons Khaleda Zia and all other arrested leaders and activists immediately.

Fakhrul called upon the voters to get ready to go to the polling stations under any circumstances to exercise their right to franchise and restore their ownership of the country.