BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is ‘deceiving’ the nation by ‘illegally’ carrying out electioneering for her party spending public money.

‘The Prime Minister is going to Khulna today (Saturday) by a helicopter spending public money to seek vote for boat,’ he said, reports the UNB.

Speaking at a discussion, he further said, ‘As they (Awami League) know they won’t be able to make any development promise to woo voters after the announcement of the election schedule, they’re doing it now. It’s an unethical and unlawful act, and a deception with people.’

A faction of Labour Party, one of the partners of the 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at the National Press Club demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release.

Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, also alleged that the Prime Minister and the ministers are violating the election rule by conducting election campaign before announcement of the election schedule. ‘It can’t be allowed that they’ll seek vote for ‘Boat’ keeping BNP leaders in jail and denying the party permission for holding rallies and carrying out other political programmes.’

He also harshly criticised the Election Commission (EC) for what he said its inaction against Awami League’s ‘unilateral’ election campaign. ‘The Election Commission is saying they’ve nothing to do now. The fact is that it has no courage to take any step against the ruling party as it has become a subservient institution of the government.’

Had it happened in India, the BNP leader said, the Chief Election Commissioner of that country would have surely taken stern actions.

He urged the government either to stop campaign by the ruling party or create a similar scope for BNP to carry out electioneering smoothly.