Mosharrof Bablu
Today was the last day to apply for the 2nd stage of the chairman election process. A predicament has arisen with the fact that no BNP applicants have been found in 19 zones of the first stage and 33 zones of the 2nd stage. It is believed that they have fled their stations in fear. It has been reported that in the two stages combined, there is a lacking of 180 BNP chairman applicants. Clashes have been reported all around with a minimum of 1000 casualties. Various allegations and cases have been brought against BNP constituents; police are liable to arrest them at any time. Due to their abstinence, a shortage will be felt in the next 4 stages of the election. In order to bring about a more stable situation, a number of pleas have been made to the Election Commission but none has been heard yet. In accordance with this, Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir, BNP acting general secretary has said that these situations have been created so that BNP may step away from the elections. He strongly believes that the EC is hand in gloves with the ruling party in this scheme.
Translated by: Marilyn Thipthorpe