Chhatra Dal protests outside Nirbachan Bhaban over EC’s role ahead of Feb polls

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP, on Sunday continued its demonstration in front of Nirbachan Bhaban, protesting the Election Commission’s “biased and controversial” role ahead of the upcoming national election slated for February 12 next.

JCD activists staged a sit-in programme at 10:00 am in front of Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area, protesting the EC’s role and raising three allegations against the commission on issues including postal ballots and the Shahjalal University Central Students’ Union (SUCSU) election.

The JCD leaders accused the EC of biased and questionable decisions on postal ballots, which they said have raised serious doubts about the impartiality of the election process.

They alleged that the commission has been taking unwise and short-sighted decisions instead of responsible and rational ones under pressure from a particular political group, calling into question the independence and professionalism of the commission.

The JCD leaders also strongly criticised what they termed an unprecedented and controversial notification issued by the Election Commission concerning the SUCSU election due to the direct influence and interference of a specific political party.

They warned that such actions pose a serious threat to democratic practices in the university.

“We’ve seen that a particular political group exerted influence over the ballot papers and carried out such activities. And these activities were definitely carried out with the direct incitement and support of those sitting here (EC),” said JCD president Rakibul Islam Rakib while addressing the demonstration.

EC hearing underway

Meanwhile, the Election Commission continued its final day’s hearing of appeal petitions filed against returning officers over the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers during scrutiny.

The commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, started the hearing at 10:00am and was scheduled to hear around 35 petitions on Sunday, along with a number of pending petitions related to the candidacies of BNP and Jamaat candidates, as it is set to conclude the hearing and disposal of all appeal petitions on the day.