11 December 2018, Tue, 7:55

Level playing field is not created; cases, arrest drives continue against the opposition activists

Secretary General urges election commission and the law enforcers to play fair role ahead of national polls

Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and 20 party alliance’s candidate for Dhaka-15 constituency, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 11 December 2018 protesting and condemning the move of creating hindrance and obstruction against the campaign of the candidates of ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ nationwide and also denouncing the arrests of opposition leaders and activists without any arrest warrants.

“Though the government is talking verbally about holding a free, fair and credible election, but practically no such atmosphere is apparent so far. Rather, we are going through some reverse situation. The chief election commissioner has stated that all due measures have been taken to hold a fair election. Even level-playing field is ensured for all the candidates. He also claimed to create a new history of holding a fair election under a political government. But his words are not reflected practically.

The Chief Election Commissioner further said that no one can be arrested without arrest warrant. But the law enforcers are arresting the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatrashibir and other opposition parties from Dhaka and other parts of the country without any warrant of arrest. On last 4 December, police arrested 5 Jamaat leaders including party’s central Majlish-e-Shura member Advocate Belayet Hossain from Uttara but still they have not been produced before the court. DB police also detained Mirpur thana BNP President Abdul Hossen Abdul, general secretary Waizuddin, joint general secretary Mukul and several others from the Judge Court premise on 10th December. Police also arrested the elected councilor of Mirpur’s 12, 13 and 14 number ward Masuda Akhter along with another opposition activist Kamrunnahar and a kid.

The Chhatra League goons looted 18 thousand posters and 3 thousand leaflets of Sheaf of Paddy from two presses, located in Shamnagar of the Satkhira district. The miscreants also attacked the motorcade of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Thakurgaon. In recent times, attempts of murder have been made against Barrister Moudud Ahmed in Noakhali and Shah Moazzem Hossen in Munshiganj. But the government and the election commission have taken no step to stop such terrorist activities. Is it the example of election commission’s sincerity for creating a level-playing ground?

The CEC further claimed that level playing field has been created. But it is far away from reality. Rather the opposition candidates are not allowed to conduct electoral campaign. They are being barred. All sorts of repressions including cases, attacks, physical assaults, vandalism and violence are being continued on regular basis against the opposition forces.

I am calling upon the election commission to remove all disturbances and to create a congenial atmosphere for holding a free, fair and credible election. Otherwise, the election commission has to take the liabilities. It is our call to the law enforcement agencies, please ignore all threats, pressures and intimidations. Do your duty in a free and fair way. Try to contribute wholeheartedly to free the nation from the suffocating situation.

Therefore, I am urging the concerned authorities to create a level playing field. For the sake of greater national interest, I am also calling on the authority to release all the detained leaders and activists of the opposition parties including BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia immediately and unconditionally.