Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday urged the Election Commission (EC) to ensure a congenial atmosphere in municipal election areas so that voters can exercise their franchise without any obstacle and intimidation.

‘We mainly call upon the Commission to arrange a free and fair election so that voters can cast their votes as per their wish without any obstruction, fear and favour,’ said BNP senior leader Abdul Moyeen Khan.

He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after over an hour-long meeting between Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and a five-member BNP delegation, reports UNB.

Moyeen Khan, a BNP standing committee member, led the BNP team at the meeting that began at about 4:00pm.

The BNP leader said they placed a set of allegations with specific examples, including threat, obstruction and intimidation to BNP men and the wholesale arrest of the opposition leaders and activists, at the meeting.

He alleged that many potential contestants were obstructed from submitting their nomination papers across the country. ‘No one, expect Awami League aspirants, could submit their nominations in Feni district while several dozens of ruling party candidates have already got elected unopposed there.’

Moyeen Khan alleged that law enforcers have already arrested several thousands of BNP leaders and activists all over the country since the announcement of the election schedule.

The BNP leader alleged that their leaders and activists are being arrested, harassed and intimidated so that BNP candidates cannot carry out their electioneering. ‘If our leaders and activists are arrested and they can’t stay at their homes and in their areas due to threat and intimidation who will conduct polls campaign for our contestants? If it continues, the election will not be meaningful one.’

He, however, hoped that as a statuary body the EC will properly perform its sacred duty enshrined by the constitution by holing a fair and neutral election.