Dhaka: Hitting out at the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for his remark that the first phase of Union Parishad (UP) polls were largely fair and acceptable, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said his version goes counter to the reality.

Speaking at a discussion, he also said they now want to extend the BNP-led 20-party alliance by including more democratic parties in it for the ‘restoration’ of democracy and people’s voting and other rights.

‘We’ve seen in the newspapers that widespread took place across the country leaving 12 people dead and 500 injured. Such a situation has also been created during the municipal, upazila and city elections,’ Fakhrul said.

‘But, the Chief Election Commissioner said the elections were fair and acceptable. His statement is contrary to the reality. A ruling part leader who was a former foreign minister said such fair elected never held earlier in Bangladesh. If this is the situation where and whom to will people go?

Mentioning that the election system has been destroyed to impose a one-party rule in the country, the BNP leader said he has lost his interest to talk about the country’s election system, election and the Election Commission.

‘The government has gradually destroyed all the democratic institutions and basic structures of the sate. There’re killings, violence, uncertainty and chaos everywhere in the country as now no single democratic institution exists in the country,’ he observed.

Jatiya Jubo Jagpa arranged the discussion at the Photojournalists Association auditorium marking the Independence Day.

The first phase of elections to 717 UPs was held amid violence and various irregularities in different areas across the country.

Talking to reporters after the voting, CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad claimed the polls were largely fair and acceptable.

Fakhrul said the country’s economy has also been destroyed due to unabated looting from the finical sector. ‘Huge money is being plundered from banks. The Bangladesh Bank was left, but now money is being looted from it, too. A few days after the central bank heist, money was also stolen from Janata Bank by its official. Where will our economy go as non-stop plundering is going on?’

The BNP leader observed that the current situation cannot be changed without changing the present political structure and political culture.

Fakhrul said there is no alternative to a national unity to put an end to current ‘autocratic and one-party’ rule.

‘We’ve formed the BNP-led 20-party alliance to forge a unity. We want to now extend its fold by including other democratic parties, institutions and individuals to wage a movement for establishing democracy and people’s rights.’