Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Tuesday alleged that ruling party men ‘more or less rigged votes’ in all most all the polling stations across the country in the first phase of the Union Council (UC) polls.

Speaking at a post-election press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also demanded reconstitution of the Election Commission with neutral, capable and courageous people who will not succumb to the threat of any party and the executive branch.

‘They (AL men) have rigged votes and used muscle power more or less at almost every centre during the first phase of the UC election,’ he said.

Mentioning that the election atmosphere was anarchic, Rizvi said, ‘Polling stations were captured by driving out our agents at gun points, ballot boxes were snatched and stuffed those.’

The BNP leaders said the Election Commission which is the main authority to ensure a fair election has turned into a protector of vote frauds.  

He said the Commission has also turned a blind eye to hooliganism, terrorist acts and election irregularities by the ruling party ‘cadres’ only to protect their jobs.

He questioned why the Chief Election Commissioner is not quitting his post when he cannot ensure a fair election. ‘If you quit protesting the terrorism and misdeeds and hooliganism, it’ll at least remain as an example… you’re playing the role of a silent spectator while the nation’s voting right has been snatched. How much salary do you get that you can’t give up your greed for the job?’

Rizvi also said had the EC played its due role and exerted its constitutional power, the government could not have destroyed the country’s election system and snatched people’s voting right.  

He said the Election Commission is mainly responsible for all the polls irregularities, vote rigging and terrorism as it has no ability to check those and protest unjust acts.