BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said the list of candidates for the Upazila Parishad polls has exposed how Awami League has turned into an empty vessel, as genuine politicians are being sidelined from the election race.

“The common people are not joining the upazila polls. The pro-democracy eople are not showing interest in contesting the polls,” he said.

Speaking at a human chain programme, the BNP leader also said the majority of ruling party ministers, MPs are primarily businessmen and opportunists. “They’re buying nominations while those who do politics are no longer there in the elections."

Rizvi describes BNP leaders participating in UZ polls as 'astray, misguided'

Pointing to the Awami League General Secretary, he said, "Your party has become an empty tin box... So, think of your party first, then talk about BNP. An empty vessel makes much noise. Your voices are louder because your Awami League has become an empty vessel."

Rizvi said the ruling party leaders often talk about BNP’s weakness, failures and frustration just to cover up their own party’s crumbling and dismal condition.

'Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel Mukti Parishad' arranged the human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia (from house arrest), joint secretary general Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel and other jailed leaders of the party and its associate bodies.

Rizvi said the ruling party made frantic efforts but failed to garner public support for the sham elections to the upazila Parishads. “Those who belong to Awami League are saying, if the relatives, including children, wives and brothers-in-law, of the ministers and MPs can contest the upazila polls what will the party’s other leaders do?

Country turned into gas chamber due to unplanned urbanisation: Rizvi

He said although the high command asked the relatives of the ministers and MPs not to be candidates in the upazila polls, hardly anyone paid heed to it.

"The wives, sons, daughters, and brothers-in-law who are contesting the elections are arguing that if 20 or 30 of the Prime Minister's relatives can participate in the Upazila elections, then why should they be excluded? This is the situation," Rizvi said.

Rizvi said those who betray the people's trust and those who snatch the people’s ownership of the country cannot get public support: “Awami League is currently encircled by a handful of opportunists, loan defaulters and members of the market syndicate. They’re the mass enemies”