BNP, Jamaat spar over poll environment

Leaders of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday met the Chief Election Commissioner with various complaints and accused the other party of disrupting the election environment without mentioning each other by name.

“A party is forming ‘peace committees’ in various areas under the pretext of law enforcement -- the term ‘peace committee’ carries historical controversy,” said BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan after the meeting in the morning.

Through this, fear may be created among the public and attempts may be made to suppress the opposition.

The commission, however, said no decision has been made to form such committees and they have no knowledge of this matter, he said, adding that the party has been campaigning in religious institutions in violation of EC rules.

He also alleged unusually high voter migration in certain constituencies before the election.

“Where only 4–5 people are supposed to live, 20–30 voters have been shown. In many cases, voter registration was done without holding numbers. Although the EC says it has found no evidence of these, we are not satisfied with the information provided.”

He urged the EC to provide detailed constituency-wise migration information and demanded strict action if any suspicious evidence is found.

“Leaders and activists of certain political parties are working outside their own areas. Although there is no direct legal prohibition, we demand that outsiders leave the area at least two days before the election to prevent any kind of disorder,” Khan added.

Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair denied the allegations after the meeting later in the day and accused the BNP of disrupting the election environment.

“All these absurd allegations cannot come from a healthy mind. No sound party or individual could make such claims. A group of people, seeing the overwhelming public support for us, is making these statements out of fear. This is not a sign of wellness. We pray for their wellbeing.”

Regarding campaigning in religious institutions, he said: “You all can see where and what we do. None of our campaigns take place in the darkness of night -- they are all done in broad daylight. All these statements are merely an attempt to question the election. This is completely wrong.”

He mentioned that female activists are being attacked across the country.

“When female activists are going door-to-door in neighbourhoods or work for the election, a group of people is subjecting them to various forms of harassment and abuse.”

They are being subjected to cyberbullying, physical assault and their hijabs and niqabs forcibly removed. They are also receiving various threats.

“We have reported these matters locally as well.”

Law enforcement officials and those in the electoral committee have also been informed.

Since these incidents are happening repeatedly, the women of Bangladesh are extremely concerned and anxious.

“A proper environment is necessary for a free, fair, acceptable, and peaceful election. Half of our voters are women, and ensuring a safe environment for them is the responsibility of the government and the EC,” he added.