Asif Mahmud voices doubts over fair polls, says NCP may reconsider election participation
Asif Mahmud, also a former interim government adviser, further said the commission has lost the trust of political parties over the past two days
National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and the party's Election Management Committee Chairman Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has expressed concerns over the possibility of a fair election under the current Election Commission (EC), warning that his party may reconsider whether it will participate in the upcoming national polls.
Speaking at a press conference at the party office in the capital's Banglamotor tonight (18 January), the NCP leader said, "We are deeply concerned about the way the BNP secretary general and the party's election steering committee convener met the EC during the appeal hearings, and how BNP candidates' nominations were validated immediately afterwards."
"These incidents raise serious questions about whether a fair election is possible under this commission. If necessary, we may once again have to take to the streets," he added.
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Asif Mahmud, also a former interim government adviser, further said the commission has lost the trust of political parties over the past two days of hearings.
"After today, the NCP no longer has confidence in the commission. In this situation, we will reconsider whether we will take part in the parliamentary election," he said. "However, no final decision has been taken yet."
The NCP leader informed that the party would discuss the issue internally as well as with other political parties and partners in the 10-party alliance before announcing a final decision. "We want the election to be held on time, but if this situation continues, we will sit down again with the chief adviser and the commission."
He also alleged that the commission is showing undue leniency towards loan defaulters. "It is alarming that the commission is proactively assisting loan defaulters. In some cases, a commissioner has even instructed candidates on how to fill out forms."
Asif Mahmud further alleged inconsistency in the commission's decisions on dual citizenship. "Nominations of three Jamaat candidates had earlier been cancelled on grounds of dual citizenship, with commissioners signing off on those decisions, but those cancellations were later overturned."
"The reason, in our view, is to avoid cancelling the nominations of a large number of BNP candidates on the same grounds," he said.
