NCP accuses BNP of violence, intimidation, vote buying ahead of polls

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has accused the BNP of terrorism, attacks, intimidation and vote buying, warning that the overall situation ahead of the upcoming national election is undermining the prospects of a free, fair and participatory vote.

The allegations were made at an emergency press conference titled "Overall election situation and field-level analysis", held this evening (3 February) at the party's central office in Banglamotor in the capital.

In a written statement, Monira Sharmin, the party's Central Election Management Committee secretary, said, "NCP leaders, activists, supporters and ordinary citizens across the country have recently faced a series of attacks, threats and acts of violence."

"The incidents were seriously jeopardising the electoral environment and creating fear among voters. Alongside violence, allegations of vote buying have also increased at an alarming rate," the statement added.

The NCP described the BNP's political stance as contradictory, alleging that while the party campaigns for "No" votes in some areas, its top leadership takes a different position elsewhere. Such conflicting messages, the party claimed, are confusing voters and making the BNP's position on the election appear unclear and opportunistic.

Photo: Courtesy

The party also alleged widespread violations of the electoral code of conduct, including the printing of leaflets containing banned symbols and images, concealment of information, and the retention of candidacies despite allegations of dual citizenship and loan default.

These issues, NCP leaders said, raise serious questions about the neutrality of the Election Commission.

Citing a report by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the NCP claimed that a significant portion of recent political violence has been linked to the BNP, while alleging that the government has failed to take visible and effective action against those responsible.

The party further accused some election officials of biased conduct in several areas, saying such behaviour is further damaging the credibility of the electoral process.

'Presiding officers being appointed based on political ideology'

Speaking at the conference, party's spokesperson and chairman of the Central Election Management Committee Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain alleged that neutral officers were being removed from the field and replaced with partisan officials.

He claimed, "Presiding officers were being appointed based on political ideology using information from state intelligence agencies, and that some officers were openly campaigning in favour of a particular party."

The NCP leader also alleged that candidates linked to Jamaat-e-Islami or the NCP were being excluded after political identity verification, while individuals affiliated with the BNP were being appointed as presiding officers.

He further claimed that a BNP leader had admitted to selecting candidates using intelligence surveys, calling the practice undemocratic. "BNP was born as a king's party, and the same state patronage continues," he said, alleging that the party enjoys support from mid-level and senior officials.

Asif Mahmud also criticised what he described as unequal treatment of complaints, claiming that NCP allegations receive no follow-up while BNP complaints are acted upon without scrutiny.

Raising concerns over voter intimidation, he alleged that threats were being issued against voters who refuse to vote for the BNP's electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy. He warned that such practices signal an attempt to come to power through manipulated voting.

Asif reiterated its demand for immediate steps to stop political violence, conduct impartial investigations and ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible.

He called for a zero-tolerance policy against violence, vote buying and violations of the electoral code, and urged authorities to allow the army access to polling centres with magistracy powers to prevent vote rigging.