National polls: BNP and Jamaat flag lack of level playing field

Two major political parties, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, yesterday raised concerns over the absence of a level playing field ahead of the February 12 polls.

BNP election steering committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin alleged that the level playing field was being eroded in multiple ways, increasing the risk of a controversial election. 

Speaking at a press briefing at the party’s Gulshan office, Mahdi said people expected every political party to receive equal opportunity through a level playing field, but recent developments suggested otherwise.

Mahdi alleged that a particular political party was repeatedly exploiting religious sentiments to gain political advantage.

“For example, media reports have shown voters being made to swear on the Holy Quran to vote for a particular symbol. This is a direct violation of the electoral code of conduct,” he said.

He also alleged that the same party was going door to door to collect people’s national identity card numbers and bKash numbers, indicating dishonest intentions.

Raising concerns over unequal treatment, Mahdi said several political parties were openly seeking votes for their candidates and symbols through various programmes and online platforms.

Meanwhile, Jamaat assistant general secretary Hamidur Rahman Azad, after meeting Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, said there was no level playing field.

“Electoral parity is not being maintained here. On one side, violations of the code of conduct are taking place, but no action is taken. On the other side, those who are not violating the code are being harassed with fines, notices and other measures. We told the commission this must stop,” he said.

Hamidur said the government continued to make reassuring statements, but these were not reflected in practice.

He stressed that without ensuring administrative neutrality, a level playing field could not exist. 

According to the schedule, election campaigning is supposed to begin on January 22.

“Campaigning should not be happening now. Yet in several areas, candidates, particularly from certain parties, are freely conducting election campaigns,” he said, adding that his party activists were not electioneering.

He also called on the EC to ensure security for all party leaders and candidates and demanded the installation of CCTV cameras at polling centres.