Jamaat alleges bias, questions EC's impartiality ahead of polls
EC’s failure to respond promptly to such complaints had created an 'atmosphere of fear' and 'uneven competition' ahead of polls, says Zubair
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has raised concerns over what the party described as impartiality of the Election Commission (EC), alleging administrative bias, selective enforcement of electoral rules and inaction on complaints during the ongoing campaign period.
The allegations were made at a press briefing held at the party's central office on Friday (6 February), addressed by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair.
Zubair claimed the party had repeatedly informed the EC of incidents regarding "intimidation, violence and harassment" targeting its candidates and activists in different parts of the country, but effective action was absent.
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He alleged that the EC's failure to respond promptly to such complaints had created an "atmosphere of fear" and "uneven competition" ahead of polls.
The Jamaat leader further claimed that several officials assigned to election duties were "politically aligned with a particular party," raising concerns about their ability to act impartially.
The appointment of such individuals as presiding and polling officers called into question the "neutrality of the electoral process," he added.
Jamaat raised concerns over rising harassment of female campaigners, with Zubair saying their election activities faced threats, intimidation and obstruction.
