BNP plans strong presence at polling centres to resist vote rigging

Highlights

• 2000 to 5000 activists will remain stationed at risky polling stations all times
• As per Tarique's instructions, activists will be at polling stations after Fajr prayers on election day
• Law enforcers, others will be informed immediately, if anything unusual something noticed
• Special attention to seats of top leaders of 11 party-alliance
• Strong monitoring underway from center

The BNP has decided to maintain a strong organisational presence at every polling centre across the country to ensure a fair voting, halt vote rigging, and finally secure victory in the upcoming 13th national election slated for 12 February.

According to BNP insiders, the party's central command has instructed grassroots units to engage a large number of leaders and activists at polling centres, particularly those identified as "risky."

The party has also strengthened central monitoring to ensure that directives are implemented effectively at the field level, aiming at preventing any attempt to influence voters, obstruct voting, or manipulate the electoral process, especially in constituencies where rival candidates are considered to be strong.

Party insiders said that even before the election schedule was announced, BNP had formed 110-member election committees for each polling centre. These committees will play the primary role in overseeing activities on election day. In high-risk centres, additional manpower will be deployed, including leaders and activists from ward, union, and upazila levels.

Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, team leader of the legal assistance sub-committee of BNP's central election management committee, told The Business Standard that BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has issued clear instructions regarding election-day conduct.

"He (Tarique) has directed that BNP leaders and activists begin their presence at polling centres immediately after offering Fajr prayers on election day," Kazal said. "The objective is to ensure that voting takes place in a free, fair, and peaceful manner."

BNP activists will remain at party booths near polling centres in compliance with electoral laws. Their responsibilities include encouraging voter participation, maintaining a calm and festive atmosphere, monitoring the overall situation, and promptly informing law enforcement agencies if any attempt is made to apply illegal pressure or create disorder, according to Kazal. 

Mir Shahe Alam, BNP candidate for Bogura-2 and vice-president of the district unit, said preparations at the local level were already in full swing.

"We have activated polling centre committees to ensure voter turnout and a proper voting environment," he told this newspaper. 

"Following Tarique Rahman's directives, leaders and activists at all levels will remain at their respective centres throughout the day and until the results are announced," he said, adding that thousands of party activists would be present at every polling centre in his constituency.

Fearing the possible attempts by vested quarters to manipulate the vote, BNP senior joint secretary general and member secretary of the party's election management committee Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, "We are identifying risky areas and informing the Election Commission (EC) accordingly."

"We are in regular contact with the EC and discussing various concerns. At this stage, the EC seems sincere about ensuring a fair election, and we hope it will uphold that trust," Rizvi said. 

Rizvi clarified that BNP does not intend to take the law into its own hands. "If voters are obstructed or an atmosphere of fear is created, the BNP will immediately inform law enforcement agencies and the relevant government authorities.

On condition of anonymity, a central BNP leader told the TBS that intelligence gathered by the party suggests that a rival political alliance is planning vote rigging, use of illegal ballots, and attempts to seize polling centres in certain areas.

"Based on this information, we have prepared a list of risky centres," the leader said. "Local leaders and activists will remain fully active at those centres throughout the day."

He claimed that in one Dhaka seat, where a top leader of the 11-party alliance is contesting, plans are allegedly in place to mobilise activists from a student organisation linked to Dhaka University to influence the vote.

In Dhaka-11, where BNP candidate MA Qaiyum is contesting against a senior leader of the alliance, party officials said they were taking extra measures.

"Apart from the regular unit members, between 2,000 and 5,000 activists will remain stationed at selected centres based on the risk level," a senior election committee member of the constituency (Dhaka-11) told this newspaper. "We will strongly resist any attempt to exert illegal influence."

Tarique Rahman at election rallies urged supporters to remain alert on election day, calling on voters to go to polling centres after offering Tahajjud prayers. 

"People have been deprived of their voting rights for years," he said. "In the past, others have stolen our votes. This time, we must stay vigilant so that no one can take our votes away."

He also accused a political group of printing fake ballots, reiterating the need for heightened alertness.

According to BNP estimates, there will be around 43,000 polling centres and nearly 250,000 polling booths across the country, with a voter base of nearly 129 million.