NCP lodges formal complaints against BNP to Election Commission

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has lodged a series of formal complaints against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Election Commission as campaigning intensifies nationwide.

Sometimes naming BNP and hinting at the party, and at other times naming its chief and other leaders, NCP’s Central Election Management Committee Member Secretary Ayman Rahat submitted the complaints.

The NCP is currently a coalition partner of Jamaat-e-Islami for the parliamentary election.

Rahat also formally requested that the Election Commission (EC) take the necessary disciplinary measures to address these concerns.

In the lead-up to the general election, an NCP delegation met with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday to file several complaints.

The party alleged that a specific political group has been carrying out a series of premeditated attacks on a number of other parties.

This meeting follows separate discussions held on Sunday between the CEC and the BNP and Jamaat delegations.

Speaking to reporters at the Nirbachan Bhaban following the meeting, Rahat expressed doubts over the possibility of a fair election.

“When a particular party is allowed to carry out continuous attacks with impunity, questions naturally arise over a ‘level playing field’ or the prospect of a free and fair vote,” he said.

The NCP leader highlighted an incident in Sherpur, where a Jamaat leader reportedly died following an attack by BNP activists.

Rahat noted that no arrests have been made to date.

“The accused in that attack have been granted anticipatory bail [on Monday]. While the local UNO and OC have been transferred, no real action has been taken.

“When perpetrators get away with such violence, it emboldens them to believe they are above the law. We are seeing the same situation in Hatiya,” he added.

According to Rahat, former BNP home minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury had openly said at a public rally that police, NSI and DGFI surveys had been used in selecting their party’s candidates.

He questioned how these three key state agencies could remain neutral in the election if they were involved in candidate selection for one political party, calling the situation “highly dangerous”.