JCD withdraws sit-in after EC assurance on postal ballots

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, on Monday evening withdrew its sit-in programme from in front of the Election Commission (EC) after receiving assurances that steps would be taken over alleged ‘irregularities’ in postal ballots.

Concluding the demonstration, JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib warned that they would immediately return with fresh programmes, if any other political party or student organisation is here with an attempt to thwart the national election or exert pressure to force the Election Commission to take controversial decisions.

“Chhatra Dal has already shown in the last two days what it can do. Do not force us, do not threaten us. You do whatever you want to do — we will do our job,” Rakib said.

The JCD president said JCD would officially begin its election campaign from January 22, saying the organisation would remain prepared to resist what it described as conspiracies aimed at influencing the election.

“As we end today’s programme, I want to make it clear that if any conspiratorial decision is taken again, we will immediately come up with fresh programmes,” he warned.

The JCD staged a sit-in for the second consecutive day on Monday in front of Nirbachan Bhaban, pressing a three-point demand, including to address alleged ‘irregularities’ in the postal ballots, ending to alleged ‘biased and controversial’ role by the Election Commission, and suspension of student union elections in different universities.

The JCD leaders and activists began their sit-in in the morning outside the EC Secretariat, chanting slogans such as ‘Dalali ar koris na’ and ‘Dalali na, rajpath—rajpath’.

Members of law enforcement agencies, including police, RAB, BGB and army, were deployed in and around the Nirbachan Bhaban to maintain order.

Amid the sit-in programme, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the afternoon.

The demonstration was called off at around 6pm after EC’s additional secretary KM Ali Newaz talked to the JCD representatives including its president Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

BNP’s Allegation Over Postal Ballots

BNP last week alleged that its electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ was intentionally kept in a less visible place (in folding line) of the postal ballot designed for the expatriate voters and demanded change in the postal ballots to be designed for government officials posted outside their voting areas, polling staff and prisoners.

The party also raised questions about the distribution process of the postal ballots abroad for out-of-country voting.

It also sought a clear explanation from the Election Commission over the recent viral video regarding the postal ballots sent to Bahrain and how the postal ballots were sent to expatriates, claiming that BNP is a victim of flaws that took place in case of the out-of-country voting system.

Later, the party asked the Election Commission to use the constituency-based postal ballots inscribing the names of candidates and symbols for the In-Country Postal Voting in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12 next.

BNP said postal ballots should include the names and symbols of all candidates of the respective constituencies, just like general ballots.