Dhaka: BNP on Monday alleged that the government has been making wholesale arrests of BNP leaders and activists to spread panic among voters in Gazipur and Khulna city corporations as their elections are billed for May 15.

‘Our Dhaka south city unit senior leaders were arrested yesterday (Sunday) to influence the two city polls and spread panic among our leaders and activists and general voters there,’ said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, reports the UNB.

He came up with the allegation at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader said Gazipur police recently arrested 45 Jamaat leaders and activists, including its mayoral candidate who later stayed away from the race and extended support to BNP candidate Hasanuddin Sarkar.

He said the motive behind the arrest is to create an alarming situation in Khulna and Gazipur so that common people there cannot raise their voice to exercise their voting rights.

Under the circumstances, Rizvi said, their party fears that the elections to the two city polls will not be held in a fair and credible manner.

He alleged that the Election Commission has so far failed to take any action against the violation of the election code of conduct by the ruling party men and stop the ‘evil’ efforts by law enforcers.

The BNP leader urged the Commission to deploy army in the two cities for ensuring a credible balloting and check possible violence.

Rizvi alleged that Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader is making mockery over their Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s illness with his various remarks.

He demanded the government immediately take steps to ensure better treatment of Khaleda at United Hospital in the capital.