Dhaka-18 polls: NCP candidate says result acceptable or not will be decided after overall review
'Until voting ends and the safe arrival of ballots from distant centres is ensured, it is not possible to make a final decision on whether to accept or reject the results,' Ariful said
The National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate of the 11-party alliance in Dhaka-18, Ariful Islam Adib, has said he will decide whether to accept the election results after reviewing the overall situation once voting concludes.
He made the remarks at an emergency press conference in front of the BNS Centre in Uttara around 2:30pm today (12 February), where he also raised multiple allegations, including expulsion of polling agents, fake voting, voter intimidation, and harassment of female voters at various centres.
Responding to a question on accepting the results, he said a decision would be taken after ballots from remote areas are received and the overall situation is assessed.
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"Until voting ends and the safe arrival of ballots from distant centres is ensured, it is not possible to make a final decision on whether to accept or reject the results. Our position will be announced after reviewing the overall situation," Ariful said.
He alleged that their polling agents were forcibly removed from the Barua Alauddin Dewan High School centre, claiming the incident occurred under the leadership of BNP leader Mobarak Hossain. He also said the agents' mobile phones were seized and their camp was attacked.
Kamrul Hasan, chief of the publicity division of the 11-party alliance in Dhaka-18, alleged that at Malekabanu School, Moynartek Government Primary School, and Sadek Master Model School, several voters were told their votes had already been cast when they went to vote. He said at least three voters had directly complained to them.
He also alleged that a case had been filed against Sujan Ahmed, secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami in Ward 39 in the Airport area, and that three agents had been expelled from a polling centre. Two agents were later allowed to re-enter with the help of the army, while one was still unable to do so.
Referring to the role of law enforcement agencies, Ariful said, "The army had taken immediate action upon receiving complaints, and their activity was visible. However, considering the vast geographical area of Dhaka-18, he demanded quick reinforcement of security at remote and vulnerable centres."
On the election outcome, he said a final decision would be announced after reviewing the overall situation following the completion of voting.
