Dhaka: BNP on Saturday alleged that plainclothes police arrested 12 members of their party’s Gazipur city mayoral candidate’s election-steering committee to help the government hold unilateral polls on Tuesday.

‘Police is raiding the houses of our party mayoral candidate’s election-steering committee every night to arrest them. They (police) have established a reign of terror in the entire election area to hold a lopsided election,’ said BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

The BNP leader came up with the allegation while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, reports the UNB.

He claimed that plainclothes police arrested BNP mayoral candidate Hasanuddin Sarker’s election-steering committee members Shaheen and Shahjhan at Kashimpur, Dr Milon and Taijul Islam at Konabari, Abdus Samad at ward-no 30, Shah Alam at Kaultia, Abu Syem at Tongi, Omar Farroque at ward-no 36, Abdus Samd and Kazimuddin at Pubail, Kawsar Hossain at ward-no 35 and Shahbuddin at ward-no 22.

Rizvi said the law enforcers arrested them without any specific allegation or in any case.

He accused the law enforcers of spreading panic among BNP leaders and activists and threatening them of bad consequences if they go to polling stations on Tuesday.

The BNP leader said though they lodged various complaints with the returning officer, no efforts is visible to stop police harassment.

He alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is not taking any step to create a level-playing field and ensure a neutral election in Gazipur.

Rizvi also said the ruling party men are violating the election code of conduct regularly, but the EC is not taking any action against them.