Sarjis faces backlash after chanting pro-NCP slogans with children in Panchagarh
Sarjis Alam, chief organiser (North) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), today (26 March) faced backlash after chanting pro-NCP slogans with children in Panchagarh.
In a video posted on his verified Facebook profile at noon, children were seen chanting slogans with him such as, 'What is the party of Bangladesh? NCP-NCP', 'What is the party of Arif-Sumaiya? NCP-NCP', 'What is the party of uncles and aunts? NCP-NCP', 'What is the party of brothers and sisters? NCP-NCP', 'What is the party of Panchagarh? NCP-NCP'.
"I was walking through the lanes inside the village. As soon as these children came to know that I had arrived, they came out of the house and started walking with me. Then we chanted slogans together in the small market of the village. Many of this generation ahead of me may not be voters yet, but they are the future of Bangladesh," reads the caption in Sarjis' post.
As the video went viral, many social media users criticised Sarjis for using children for "election campaign".
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Some users pointed out that using children in political activities is not legal.
"He is forcibly making children chant slogans," one user commented.
Many mocked Sarjis and the party too. "National Children's Party (NCP)," many users commented.
"He [Sarjis] is a child himself in the political arena," another user commented.
Some users referred to NCP's recent proposal to lower the minimum voting age to 16 and jokingly called for lowering it to seven.
Today marks the third day of Sarjis Alam's ongoing public campaign in his home district Panchagarh.
On 24 March, He flew from Dhaka to Saidpur Airport and then proceeded to Panchagarh by road, leading a convoy of over 100 vehicles through Debiganj, Boda, Panchagarh Sadar, Tentulia, and Atwari upazilas.
Facing backlash over using a large fleet of cars, on the next day, Sarjis continued his campaign in Panchagarh by traveling by rickshaw van and focusing on direct engagement with rural communities.
