BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia during a party meeting in Dhaka.

By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday placed its demand with the election commission (EC) for deployment of army in elections to 235 municipalities set for
December 30.
A BNP delegation, led by party standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan, met with chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmad to place their demand officially.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Khan said, “The deployment of army is very crucial for creating a level-playing field. Voters won’t be able to exercise their franchise without any fear unless the army is not engaged in the polls.”
Accusing the ruling party workers of attacking and harassing BNP candidates and their supporters across the country, he said, “There’s no alternative to army deployment in the polls to ensure a congenial
atmosphere.”
The BNP delegation went to the EC with the demand, a day after party chief Khaleda Zia called for army deployment in the polls.
On Monday, Khaleda said, “Army deployment is a must to hold credible municipal polls. We can expect a fair election to some extent if the army is there.”
The former prime minister said her party is supported by the war veterans who had fought on the battleground.
She also renewed her demand for a ‘transparent’ war crimes trial of ‘international standards’.
“Those who are real Razakars (collaborators of Pakistani force), who actually harassed, tortured and killed innocent people during the war, will have to be tried and punished,”
Zia said.
The BNP chief accused the Awami League of ‘patronising’ war criminals by giving them freedom-fighter tags.
“Those who did not fight the war but helped the (war) criminals are now very close to the Awami League. There are many such examples,” she said.
She alleged the Awami League made war criminals ministers - an accusation she herself faces.
“There are many Razakars in their party, but they do not see them or take steps against them.
Zia also alleged that the government has been harassing AK Khandker, who was the deputy chief of staff of the Bangladesh Armed Forces during the war, after he wrote a book
on the ‘true’ history of the war.
Earlier, former home minister and BNP leader Altaf Hossain Chowdhury’s motorcade came under attack by unidentified persons during electioneering for the upcoming municipal polls at Rahmatpur in Kalapara sub-district in southern
Patuakhali district yesterday.
The attackers hurled brickbats and stones at his motorcade as he was going to Rahmatpur to address a rally in favour of BNP-supported mayoral candidate Haji Humayun Shikder. Seven people, including the BNP leader’s wife Suraiya Akter Chowdhury and two journalists, were injured in the attack.
The attackers also vandalised six microbuses of the motorcade. Altaf Hossain Chowdhury escaped unhurt.
Additional police were deployed to avert further trouble in the area.