Dhaka: BNP on Saturday demanded that the Election Commission immediately stop the ‘wholesale’ arrest of its leaders and activists, release its arrested men and reshuffle the local administration.

‘Police drives continue across the country...the wholesale arrest continues. Our leaders and activists can’t stay at their houses. But there’s no remedy,’ BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed told reporters after a meeting between a BNP delegation and Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and his colleagues, reports the UNB.

Moudud led the BNP team at the meeting that lasted for over two hours from 3pm at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

The BNP leader said their seven probable candidates have already been arrested and sent to jail. ‘It has become difficult to get bail of our leaders and activists from the lower court as it remains under the control of the government,’ he added.

‘We think there’s no minimum environment for holding a fair election in Bangladesh. This atmosphere is getting worse day by day. The Election Commission has failed to resist the government’s move to implement its blueprint,’ said Moudud.

The BNP delegation members include its election steering committee chief Nazrul Islam Khan, standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo.