National Citizen Party-NCP on Monday expressed concerns over incidents of violence, intimidation and alleged inaction of the administration in different parts of the country ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and referendum scheduled for February 12 next.
“Violent incidents are taking place one after another in different parts of the country during the election. Despite video footage of these incidents, no visible action is being taken by the administration.
This is seriously hampering the environment for a fair election,” said NCP leader Ayman Rahat while briefing reporters in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban.
Earlier, a NCP delegation met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and raised a number of complaints. The delegation members are NCP joint member secretaries Akram Hossain and Humaira Noor and its central election steering committee member Ayman Rahat.
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Referring to an incident in Hatia of Noakhali on January 30, Rahat said BNP and Awami League activists carried out a coordinated armed attack on NCP leaders and activists, Jamaat-e-Islami members and local residents centering on a ferry inauguration programme.
Despite the video of the incident being widely circulated on social media, no arrests have been made so far, he alleged, adding that those who led the attack are known criminals in the area.
He said taking advantage of the local administration’s inaction, attackers again assaulted a procession the following day. The attackers openly claimed that the administration is on their side. The continued lack of action has raised serious questions about administrative neutrality, he added.
The NCP delegation also expressed concern over a recent statement made by a senior BNP leader.
Ayman Rahat said BNP Vice Chairman and former Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury claimed that BNP candidates were selected based on surveys conducted by the police, NSI and DGFI. “If this claim is true, it creates grave concerns over the neutrality of these state agencies during the election,” he said.
The delegation also voiced concern about a letter sent by a Bangladesh Bank official to different banks seeking agricultural loans related information after BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s statement made on agricultural loan waivers on January 31.
Noting that this incident has reflected that the state institution is used in elections, he said, “It is proved that the state institutions lost their neutrality in the election.”
Drawing the EC’s attention to the referendum issue, the party alleged that misleading and false propaganda is being carried out in favour of both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ options, but no effective action is being taken.
The NCP delegation said the administration didn’t play an impartial role during the recent violence in Sherpur that killed a Jamaat leader.
They demanded special measures to ensure security of women as Jamaat women activists face attacks and harassment.
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The NCP team also alleged that violation of election code in Dhaka-11 and Natore-3 constituencies as billboards and banners of their party convener and candidate for Dhaka-11 were torn, while office and activists of NCP candidate for Natore-3 SM Jarjis Kadir attacked.
In this context, Ayman Rahat said, "Although the Election Commission has given assurances, in reality a more active role is needed. Otherwise, the question remains whether a fair and acceptable election is possible."