Level playing field still absent, says Shafiqur

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday expressed concern over the lack of a level playing field for the upcoming local government elections.
Against this backdrop, he said the appointment of a pro-BNP retired officer as an additional secretary to the election commission raises questions ahead of the polls beginning on 21 January next year.
While exchanging views with journalists at Moulvibazar Circuit House, he informed that the chief whip recently said that no government funds would be allocated to areas where BNP candidates fail to secure victory.
“It means people are being intimidated in advance. If the elections take place amid such fear, there is no chance of holding the polls in a free and fair manner,” he said.
He said his party will not join the elections until it gets assurance from the incumbent administration.
“We don’t want to be a scapegoat. We want the person who will be chosen by the people through their votes to come to power,” he added.