BNP asks Election Commission not to deploy cadets for election duties

The BNP has asked the Election Commission (EC) not to involve Bangladesh National Cadet Corps personnel in election-related duties for the parliamentary polls and referendum, arguing that their participation could draw students and educational institutions into political controversy.

The demand was raised on Sunday during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the EC headquarters, where a BNP delegation placed a set of observations and complaints before the commission.

The general election and referendum will be held on Feb 12.

The objections follow the EC’s move to deploy around 16,000 BNCC members to assist in election work, a decision earlier communicated by the EC secretary, along with a letter sent to the relevant ministry seeking necessary arrangements.

Speaking after the meeting, BNP’s Central Election Steering Committee Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan said the party had learnt that BNCC cadets, who are students, were being considered for election duties for the first time.

He said involving young students in a “complex” political process such as a national election would not be appropriate.

Nazrul said the BNP had told the commission it would be better not to include BNCC members in the election process, warning that such a move could set a precedent for involving other student groups, including scouts or girl guides.

The BNP Standing Committee member said the party wants election duties restricted to law enforcers, and the commission appeared to recognise this reasoning, promising more discussion before deciding.

PEACE COMMITTEES

Nazrul also raised the issue of discussions around forming so-called peace committees in some constituencies in the name of maintaining order during the election.

He said the term “peace committee” itself was unacceptable to the BNP, although the party believes in peace.

According to him, the EC responded that it was not aware of any such initiative and no decision had been taken to allow the formation of such committees.

ACTION AGAINST OUTSIDERS

The BNP called for measures to ensure that individuals who are not local residents leave constituencies 48 hours before polling begins.

Nazrul told the commission that activists from certain parties are currently operating in areas where they are not registered.

He requested that these individuals be required to leave the areas two days prior to the vote to prevent any disruption or disorder.

The commission reportedly assured the delegation that it would take appropriate action.

COMPLAINT OVER BULK OBSERVERS

The delegation questioned the commission’s decision to approve over 55,000 observers from 81 domestic organisations, noting that several of these groups are relatively “unknown”.

The BNP urged the commission to ensure that only organisations with the genuine capacity to monitor the polls are involved.

They also warned that an excessive number of observers in one location could interfere with the voting process.

VOTER MIGRATION

“Over the past one and a half years, there have been numerous voter transfers in Dhaka and other areas,” Nazrul said. “Many new voters have appeared in certain constituencies, which seems irregular.”

The veteran politician said the EC had downplayed the scale of the transfers, claiming that no constituency had seen more than 2,000 to 3,000 additional voters, a response he said did not satisfy the party.

He said the BNP believes the actual number of migrated voters is significantly higher and has asked the commission to review constituency-wise data and take action where irregularities are identified.

He also alleged cases where 20 to 30 voters were registered at holdings typically occupied by four or five people, saying the commission had agreed to investigate the matter.

‘USE OF RELIGION IN CAMPAIGNS’

The BNP also complained that religion was being used in election campaigns in violation of the code of conduct.

Nazrul said such actions not only breached the law but also “hurt” religious beliefs and sentiments, yet no action had been taken by the commission.

As an example, he said campaign speeches had included references to questions asked in the grave, which he described as a distortion of religious teachings.

He urged the EC to make the activities of judicial inquiry committees on code of conduct violations more “visible and effective”.