Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday accused the Election Commission of being a ‘silent spectator’ as ruling party leaders are violating the election code of conduct ahead of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls.

“The ruling party has been on an election code violation spree. From the ruling party mayoral candidate to the local MP are violating it. Even, the head of the government is breaching the code of conduct by holding meetings at Ganobhaban about the NCC polls. But, the Election Commission is silent,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka, he also said local MP Shamim Osman at a press conference openly urged voters to cast their ballots for Selina Hayat Ivy. “It’s a clear violation of the election code of conduct.”

The BNP leader alleged that people are gradually getting concerned as the election officials are not taking any action against the allegations repeatedly brought against ruling party men.

“We strongly demand the Commission take proper action after investigation into the allegations of the election code violation by influential ruling party leaders,” he said.

According the schedule declared by the EC, the NCC election will he held on December 22. BNP nominated Shakhawat Hossain Khan while Awami League incumbent mayor Selina Hayat Ivy is contesting the mayoral post.

Rizvi claimed that hired criminals of the ruling party are increasingly roaming around the NCC area as there is no drive insight by the EC to recover the illegal arms, creating panic among the voters.

He reiterated their party’s demand for the deployment of army for the sake of a fair and acceptable balloting.

Rizvi came down hard on the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for his comment that there is no necessity to deploy army for the NCC election, saying whether the EC is planning to hold the election snatching the voters’ right as they did earlier.

“There has been a serious apprehension in public minds whether the ruling party and the Election Commission are making a hybrid attack plan together for holding a unilateral election on December 22. We think the CEC is not willing to deploy army as he wants to ensure the election atmosphere in favour of the ruling party,” he observed.