EC using tactics to give BNP special privileges

Students Against Discrimination, the platform that led the July mass uprising, has accused the Election Commission (EC) of adopting tactics to provide special privileges to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The allegation was made on Monday at a press conference held at Madhur Canteen, Dhaka University, protesting the EC's decision to validate the nominations of candidates holding dual citizenship and those who are loan defaulters.

If the nominations of corrupt individuals, loan defaulters, and dual citizens are not immediately cancelled, the July Uprising organisers said they would be forced to announce strict nationwide protest programmes.

The organisation's Chief Coordinator, Hasib Al Islam, told the media that the Election Commission is repeatedly taking deceptive measures to favour the BNP.

"We want to state clearly that the nominations of individuals against whom there are clear allegations of dual citizenship and loan default must be cancelled," he said.

Speaking on dual citizenship, Hasib warned that allowing individuals who still hold foreign citizenship to become members of parliament or ministers would pose a serious threat to national security.

"The government handles highly sensitive documents related to the constitution, defence, and foreign affairs. Where is the guarantee that those who are not fully loyal to Bangladesh will not pass such information to another country?"

He also alleged that loan-defaulter candidates from the BNP and Jamaat are being allowed to contest elections on the condition that they will repay their loans in the future.

"The question is, where will they repay the money from? Will they pay it back by looting national resources?"

Hasib added, "Even if someone had taken foreign citizenship due to past persecution, one and a half years have passed since the uprising. Why have they still not renounced that citizenship? There is no answer."

He warned that those attempting to return to politics through extortion, tender manipulation, and loan default should learn from the fate of the Awami League.

The organisation's spokesperson, Synthia Jahin Ayesha, said it is the Election Commission's duty to ensure a transparent, neutral, and competitive election.

"However, the statements and actions of the current Commission directly contradict that responsibility," she added.

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