Dhaka: Awami League Advisory Council member Suranjit Sengupta on Friday said BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is the main barrier in creating a level playing field in the city corporation elections.

‘Not the Election Commission but Khaleda Zia is the main barrier in creating a level playing field. Her party is participating in the elections and alongside, she has been calling siege-hartal programmes. How will you take part in the elections if you want to enforce siege and hartal?’ he questioned.

Suranjit Sengupta, a senior parliamentarian of the ruling Awami League, posed the question to BNP chairperson while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion in the city.

Nouka Samarthak Goshthy, an organisation of the supporters of Awami League's poll symbol 'boat', organised the discussion on current politics at the Institution of Diploma Engineers at Kakrail.

Pointing at Begum Khaleda Zia, Suranjit Sengupta said, ‘How will your voters be able to cast votes turning up at the polling centres during siege-hartal programmes? So, you have to take the first step to create a level playing field discarding illogical siege-hartal for the national interest.’

Turning to the plea of Khaleda Zia's counsel that she will appear before the court if she is provided with security, the senior Awami League leader said, ‘Who has been hindering her security? She has been passing her days in security. Where is it written that she will have to be provided with security while appearing before the court?’

In reply to some BNP leaders' demand for deployment of army in the city elections, Suranjit Sengupta asked as to why army will have to be deployed during the elections and whether the army has been imparted with training on conducting elections. ‘Our army is a highly trained force. They should not be utilised everywhere as they are deployed for protecting the country's independence and sovereignty,’ he added.

The senior Awami League parliamentarian said, ‘The Election Commission is an independent and neutral institution. It will conduct free and fair elections. Voters will go to the polling centres. The law enforcement agencies will ensure people's security.’

A leader of the host organisation Dr Khondokar Md Emdadul Huq Selim presided over the discussion, by Awami League presidium member Satish Chandra Roy, freedom fighter Abdul Hye Kanu and host organisation's secretary general Humayun Kabir Mizi also addressed the discussion.