Dhaka: Criticising Chief Election Commissioner-designate KM Nurul Huda for his reported remark that the parliamentary elections should be held under an elected government, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday alleged that he is talking like the ‘ruling party spokesman’.

“The new CEC has said Jatiya Sangsad election should be held under an elected government. The CEC who was one of the organisers of Janatar Manch is now speaking like the Awami League spokesperson. It’s his usual attitude,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, he further said, “People are in doubt how it will be possible to conduct elections neutrally by such a person.”

Rizvi also came down hard on outgoing CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed for his comment that his Commission held January-5 election with the parties that believe in transpiring power in a democratic way through voting, saying his comments exposed how much ‘Baksali’ he was.

“We’ve long been saying free and fair elections are only possible under a non-party election-time government. Or else, the polls will be unilateral like January-5 one,” he observed.

The BNP leader alleged that police attacked their party leaders and activists and arrested many of them as they gathered near Matshya Bhaban and Ramna Park to welcome their chairperson who was secluded to go the Special Judge Court-3 at Bakshibazar.

“Police charged batons, fired bullets on our leaders and activists and common people without any provocation, leaving many of them injured. We strongly condemn and protest the police attack,” he said.

Rizvi demanded the government immediately release those were arrested from the area on Thursday.