BNP boycotts upcoming upazila elections

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its decision to boycott all phases of the upcoming upazila elections citing the Awami League government's refusal to create a free and fair election environment.

"BNP is determined not to be a part of the illegal government's election farce and has decided to boycott all phases of the upcoming upazila parishad elections scheduled to start on 8 May," read a statement signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday.

The party's standing committee made the decision at a virtual meeting on Monday.

The statement further said that elections through which elected representatives are accountable to the people in every field are a necessary condition of democracy. In the absence of this condition, autocracy manifests violently.

Rizvi's statement said that the Awami League has never cultivated the culture of neutral elections in a vibrant democracy. Under their rule, candidates of opposition parties have been obstructed from collecting and submitting nomination papers and conducting election campaigns, including attacks and physical assaults.

The statement, highlighting BNP's stance against participating in elections under the current government, explained that the party had previously boycotted national parliament and local government elections held under the current government.

It adds that a fair and peaceful election environment has not yet been created, and the deteriorating law and order situation provides a justifiable reason for not participating in the upcoming upazila elections.

The statement concludes by accusing the government of mercilessly suppressing people's fundamental rights, including voting, the constitution, freedom of expression, and participation in elections by multiple parties.