Sylhet BNP alleges rival group buying votes, intimidating minorities and misusing confidential voter lists
The allegations were made today (7 February) at a press conference held at the campaign office of Sylhet-1 BNP candidate Khandakar Abdul Muktadir.
Sylhet BNP leaders have alleged that "a political group" is preparing to seize polling centres ahead of the 13th national polls, spreading false information and propaganda, engaging in vote-buying, using religious inducements to sway voters, and illegally distributing the Election Commission's confidential photo voter lists among campaigners.
The allegations were made today (7 February) at a press conference held at the campaign office of Sylhet-1 BNP candidate Khandakar Abdul Muktadir. In a written statement, Acting Metropolitan BNP President Rezaul Hasan Koyes Lodi claimed the group is deliberately spreading baseless claims against BNP candidates and involving minors in electioneering, a clear violation of the election code of conduct.
A particularly serious allegation involved the illegal use of the Election Commission's confidential photo voter lists. BNP leaders said rival supporters obtained and distributed the lists among campaigners, who then visited voters' homes, violating laws that restrict such data to election officials. They said the practice infringes on citizens' rights, exerts covert pressure on voters, and undermines election neutrality.
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BNP leaders further alleged that several polling centres in Sylhet city and Sadar Upazila are being prepared for takeover, potentially influencing voting through illegal pressure, armed demonstrations, or violence.
They also claimed that the group is intimidating religious and ethnic minority communities to prevent them from voting, citing an unusually high presence of outsiders in at least three of the district's six parliamentary constituencies, raising fears of unrest.
Additionally, Sylhet BNP leaders alleged that rival candidates and their supporters have been openly buying votes and distributing cash to low-income voters, noting that evidence of such activities has been shared with local authorities.
Sylhet BNP demanded an immediate halt to these illegal activities, strict action against those misusing the voter lists, and assurance of voters' safety and privacy. They called for a free, fair, and impartial election, warning that continued violations of the election code could erode public trust in the electoral process.
The press conference was addressed by Sylhet district BNP President Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury, with participation from Abdul Razzak, Abdul Kaiyum Jalali, Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, Badruzzaman Selim, Mahbub Kadir Shah, and other party leaders and affiliated members.
