BNP urges EC to bar controversial officials from poll duties

Staff Reporter :

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has urged the Election Commission (EC) to ensure that no controversial or politically influenced officials are involved in conducting the upcoming 13th Parliamentary poll, stressing the need for a truly free and credible vote.

A three-member BNP delegation led by Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan made the call during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon on Thursday. The meeting lasted for around two hours.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Moyeen Khan said the party had formally asked the Commission to remain “extremely vigilant” so that no “controversial or questionable officials” could take part in or influence any part of the election process.

“We have specifically told the Election Commission that officials whose roles were questioned in the past three farcical elections must not be engaged this time in any capacity. The Commission must exercise the highest level of caution,” he said.

Dr Moyeen said BNP had submitted a 36-point set of written proposals to the Commission, which include a call to exclude officials from organisations widely regarded as politically aligned institutions. The proposal specifically mentioned institutions such as Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Islami Bank Hospital, and Ibn Sina Trust.

He said the proposal was aimed at ensuring neutrality in the appointment of polling personnel – presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers – so that individuals affiliated with partisan organisations could not influence the outcome.

Citing widespread reports, Dr Moyeen said Islami Bank had recently dismissed around 5,000 employees across the country, allegedly to replace them with politically loyal recruits ahead of the polls.

“These developments have raised serious public concern, and the Election Commission must investigate and act accordingly,” he said. Quoting from the Representation of the People Order (RPO), Dr Moyeen said the law itself defines the code of conduct for officials involved in the election process.

“The Commission’s duty is to ensure that these legal provisions are fully enforced so that the election is genuinely fair and impartial,” he added.

The BNP leader emphasised that the EC’s own manpower is insufficient to manage a nationwide election involving 300 constituencies and around 42,000 polling centres, each with several booths.
“At least one million personnel will be needed, most of whom are drawn from the government administration. Given this, the Election Commission must maintain rigorous oversight to guarantee neutrality,” he said.
Dr Moyeen observed that the administration had been politically influenced over the past 17 years, which had severely undermined public confidence.
“The last three national elections were nothing short of mockeries. This is not just our opinion-international media such as The Economist and The New York Times have said the same,” he said. He added that restoring public trust requires visible steps from both the government and the Election Commission.

“People must be convinced that neither has any vested interest in the election outcome. Only then will the fear among voters subside, and Bangladeshis who believe in democracy will cast their votes peacefully in a festive atmosphere,” he said. Dr Moyeen said the BNP delegation was encouraged by the Commission’s attitude and expressed confidence that it had the capacity to deliver a credible election.
“We want the Election Commission to organise an election that can serve as a global example – one that proves Bangladesh is moving forward on the path of democracy,” he said. When asked whether the BNP would contest the election as part of an alliance, Dr Moyeen said the party had not made a final decision.
“We are still open. The necessary decision will be taken at the appropriate time,” he said.
The other members of the BNP delegation were Ismail Zabiullah, a member of the party chairperson’s Advisory Council, and Dr Mohammed Zakaria, a former acting secretary of the Election Commission.