Staff Reporter :
The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Sunday called for exemplary punishment for government officials allegedly involved in manipulating the last three parliamentary elections, accusing them of stripping citizens of their voting rights over the past 15 years.
Speaking to journalists outside the Election Commission headquarters in the capital’s Agargaon, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari said, “Voting rights had been snatched away in the last 15 years. Those (government officers) involved in irregularities and misdeeds in the three national elections must be brought to justice through proper investigation.”
The remarks came following a meeting between an NCP delegation and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin. The NCP team included Joint Convenors Anik Roy, Khaled Saifullah, Mujahidul Islam Shahin, and Tasnuva Zabeen.
In his comments, Patwari stressed the need to bring the Election Commission under a broader national reform effort. “Bangladesh is going through a reform process, and we have held talks to bring the Election Commission into that fold,” he said.
The NCP also floated a controversial proposal to make the political system more inclusive by creating pathways for grassroots figures such as village schoolteachers and mosque imams to become members of parliament.
Among the party’s key demands was a 48-hour certification system to affirm the credibility of any election before a gazette notification is issued.
“We want a mandatory certification within 48 hours confirming that the election was free and credible. If not, the Election Commission must be held accountable and subject to punishment,” Patwari said.
He also pressed for amendments to the electorate rules and electoral code of conduct, noting that the EC had expressed willingness to consider such
changes. Additionally, the discussion covered potential reforms in the laws governing the formation of the Election Commission, political party registration, and the timeline for completing the registration process.
Friday’s meeting comes at a time when the country is facing mounting calls from political groups and civil society organizations for electoral reform and greater transparency in democratic processes.
The Election Commission has yet to issue a formal response to the NCP’s demands.
