We’re contesting against candidates with criminal backgrounds: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Jamaat-led 11-party alliance candidate for the Dhaka-11 constituency, Nahid Islam, today said the BNP-led alliance has failed to nominate “credible competitors” for the national election.

“Unfortunately, we are being forced to contest against candidates who are loan defaulters, dual citizenship holders, or involved in land-grabbing, terrorism and extortion,” he told reporters during an election campaign in Dhaka’s Malibagh area at noon.

The 11-party alliance is receiving an overwhelming response from voters at the grassroots, he said, alleging that rival alliances have fielded candidates with criminal backgrounds.

“It is unfortunate that, in the post-August political landscape, we are not even facing credible competitors,” he added.

Nahid further alleged that multi-layered domestic and foreign conspiracies are underway surrounding the election, claiming that “major conspiracies” are originating from a neighbouring country.

“We have observed the close ties of a certain country with BNP and other parties. In the past, India supported flawed elections [in Bangladesh] in 2008, 2014, 2018 and 2024,” he said.

The NCP leader also accused a political party of pressuring the media to favour them ahead of the election. “There are attempts to influence media coverage and suppress reports of incidents such as the takeover of polling centres on February 12.”

Expressing confidence about forming the next government, Nahid said public support for the 11-party alliance has been unprecedented.

“The people’s response is visible. I am hopeful the alliance will secure the required seats to form the government, and the ‘waterlily bud’ symbol will win in this constituency (Dhaka-11),” he said.

Meanwhile, NCP Election Management Committee Chief Coordinator Tariqul Islam alleged at a press conference that BNP is using Awami League as a “ladder to power.” “Awami League activists are seeking votes for BNP under the slogan ‘Joy Bangla’ in exchange for forgiveness,” he said.

“If this deception continues, the people of Bangladesh will reject them,” he added.

The committee’s Secretary Monira Sharmin alleged that in a Dhaka constituency, Hindu voters are being intimidated into voting for the “sheaf of paddy” symbol, with threats that their ballots will be placed in a separate box to identify them.

Calling the allegations alarming for democracy, she said BNP has sheltered Jatiya Party over the past 16 months, describing it as a “national disgrace”.