Dhaka: BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the government is conspiring to resist their party’s victory in Tuesday’s Khulna City Corporation polls by rigging votes.

‘A tense situation has been prevailing in Khulna city. Voters are in doubt whether they’ll be able to go to the polling stations as the entire city has turned appalling,’ he said.

Speaking at a discussion programme, he further said, ‘Our polling agents are being intermediated. Even, presiding officers are being threatened. The government together with the local administration, police and those involved in voting process are plotting to rig votes.’

Desnetri Mukti Parishad arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club demanding the immediate release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Swechchhasebak Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu from jail.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, claimed that their party mayoral candidate Nazrul Islam Monju will be elected mayor with a big margin if a fair election is held. ‘We believe no one will be able to resist BNP’s victory if people can cast their votes.’

He said police arrested their party’s many probable agents while law enforcers asked many others not to go to polling stations. ‘The ruling party together with the administration and police is working to thwart BNP’s victory.’

The BNP leader criticised the government for making delay in issuing a gazette notification on quota abolishment system in public services as per the Prime Minister’s announcement.

‘The government should have issued the gazette the day after the Prime Minister’s announcement about it. We demand that the gazette be issued immediately,’ he added.

Mosharraf urged BNP leaders and activists to get ready for waging a greater movement to force the government to release Khaleda from jail and hold the next general election under a non-party administration.

Earlier at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that an ‘undeclared curfew’ has been enforced for BNP leaders and activists and common voters in Khulna while the ruling party men are in a festive mood in an empty field.

He said the Election Commission having failed to ensure a proper election atmosphere has turned Khulna into an awful city with the help of Awami League ‘cadres’ and law enforcers.

The BNP leader also alleged police and the ruling party men are terrorising people so that they do not go to polling stations.