Jamaat alleges bias by election officials

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Tuesday alleged that sections of law enforcement agencies and election-related field officials are acting in a biased manner in favour of a particular political party, raising fresh concerns about the neutrality of the electoral process ahead of the February polls.

“We are still seeing that a section of law enforcement agencies and those involved in election management are acting in a biased manner,” said Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami and head of the party’s central publicity and media department.

He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after receiving the party’s electoral symbol—scales—from the office of the returning officer for the Dhaka-15 constituency in the capital’s Agargaon area.

“Officials responsible for ensuring a level playing field appear to be leaning towards a particular party,” he said, without naming the party Jamaat claims is being favoured.

Ehsanul Mahbub said Jamaat has formally drawn the Election Commission’s attention to the issue and warned that the party may publicly disclose the names of officials accused of bias if corrective measures are not taken.

“If the commission does not ensure their neutrality or take appropriate action, we will be compelled to make the list of such officials public. It will then be our responsibility to inform the people,” he said.

Expressing concern over the overall election environment, he said Jamaat hopes the polls will be fair, peaceful and free from fear and violence, but alleged that incidents of attacks and harassment against party leaders and activists are continuing in different parts of the country.

“An incident occurred in the Dhaka-15 constituency just yesterday. We have informed both the Election Commission and the returning officer,” he added, without providing further details.

He urged law enforcement agencies and election officials deployed in the field to act impartially and to take effective steps to prevent violence, intimidation and harassment ahead of the polls.

The Election Commission has repeatedly said it is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all political parties and candidates and has warned that action will be taken against anyone found violating the electoral code of conduct.

The Jamaat leader’s comments come as campaigning intensifies nationwide and political parties continue to raise concerns over the election environment, law and order, and the conduct of officials responsible for administering the vote.