Gazipur, Khulna city polls: BNP against EVM use, demands deployment of army

BNP on Tuesday demanded deployment of army at least seven days before the mayoral elections to Khulna and Gazipur city corporations billed for May 15.

The party also sought immediate withdrawal of Gazipur Police Superintendent (SP) Harun-ur-Rashid and other partisan officials in the police and administration for the sake of a credible balloting.

A six-member BNP delegation placed the demands at a meeting with Election Commission at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka, according to a UNB report.

The BNP team also opposed any kind of use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the two city polls.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and other Election Commissioners were present at the meeting.

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain led the BNP team at the meeting.

The other members of the delegation were party stranding committee members Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and vice-chairman Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mosharraf said the Commission assured them of considering their demands as it thinks those are logical.