Fair polls not possible under caretaker govt

At a press conference they said they were feeling 'insecure' and apprehending intimidation of voters of minority and indigenous communities by candidates of four-party alliance and their musclemen.

'Grand alliance' candidates Sardar Amjad Hossain, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Fazle Hossain Badsha, Omar Faruk Chowdhury and Tajul Islam Mohammad Faruk spoke at the press conference held at a restaurant in the city Thursday evening.

Many other leaders of Awami League and its allies were present. They also alleged massive flaws in the voter lists in different constituencies. Citing an example, they said 2500 voters were shown in the address of Al Amin student mess in ward no. 30 in Rajshahi city though then mess can not accommodates more than 50 people.

They said they lodged complaints with the election office about 5000 illegal voters at 29 student messes in the city but that was not corrected.

Most of the police and administration officials are still following orders of four-party alliance leaders, they alleged.

Islamist militants including JMB activists and outlaws have not been arrested while illegal arms are still in hands of BNP-Jamaat cadres, they alleged.

They demanded adequate security and threatened that if any lack of neutrality was found in conducts of the caretaker government in any of the five constituencies, they all start movement leaving the elections.

Cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir are using Rajshahi University halls and different students' messes in the city for their terrorist activities, they alleged.

They said, they raised the allegations at the law and order meeting held at the police superintendent's office prior to the press conference.

They also questioned neutrality of the caretaker government, saying killers of Rajshahi University teacher Prof S Taher Ahmed were released on bail while those accused for Prof Yunus murder are yet to be arrested.

Sardar Amjad Hossain, candidate from Bagmara and Mohonpur area said cadres of the 4-party alliance are intimidating voters in his constituency.

AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, a candidate from Bagha and Charghat area said he apprehends of harassment of his party men by the law enforcing agencies and BNP-Jamaat cadres.

Fazle Hossain Badsha, vying from Rajshahi city and Paba upazila seat said, four-party alliance candidates are distributing money among voters. He demanded their arrest.

Omar Faruk Chowdhury, contesting from Tanore and Godagari area, protested the decision to keep mobile phone network closed on the election day and the order for deposit of legal arms of candidates.

Tajul Islam Mohammad Faruk claimed that police and election officials were playing partisan roles. He said, 18 people accused in Awami League leader Zahangir murder case were released on bail while Zahangir's brother Alamgir was accused in a 'false case'.