EC acting for BNP, not as constitutional body: Nasiruddin Patwary

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has accused the Election Commission (EC) of acting as a partisan body and demanded its reconstitution ahead of local and national elections.

Speaking at a protest rally in front of the EC office in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Wednesday, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary alleged that the EC “no longer functions as a constitutional entity” and has “turned into a BNP party office”.

The demonstration was organised to demand the reconstitution of the Election Commission and the holding of local government elections.

“The EC has ceased to be a constitutional institution. It now acts as a spokesperson for the BNP,” Patwary said.

He further claimed that the interim government currently in power was formed through what he described as a “blood mandate of the people” and warned it not to “serve the interests of the BNP”.

“You cannot govern in the name of the people while handing over institutions like Nagar Bhaban to and the election Commission to BNP,” he said.

Patwary went on to criticise the BNP’s 31-point reform charter, alleging that the party had appointed loyalists to the Election Commission, thereby undermining its own reform proposals. “The 31-point charter is simply a tool to deceive the public,” he said.

He accused the BNP of occupying various state institutions, including the EC, and called upon the interim government to “de-occupy” them.

“If you fail to do so, remove the advisers aligned with BNP immediately,” he urged.

Patwary further claimed that certain BNP-affiliated advisers were conspiring against the July movement participants from within key government offices, including the judiciary, finance ministry, and education ministry.

He also accused the BNP of engaging in “politics over dead bodies” and described recent remarks by senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed as a “betrayal of the July uprising”. He alleged that Ahmed was “acting on India’s prescription to uphold the Mujibist constitution.”

Patwary noted that although Awami League activities were suspended in response to NCP’s demands, the constitution itself remained in place.

While noting that the Awami League’s activities had been suspended in response to NCP’s demands, Patwary said the constitution itself had not been addressed.

He warned of further protests, including the symbolic burning of the constitution, if it was not “revoked”.

The senior NCP leader also called on the interim government to hold local government elections ahead of national elections to test the Election Commission’s ability to hold free and fair elections following its constitution.

The NCP rally concluded at 2:15pm, with its leaders stating that their programmes would continue until their demands were met.