NCP warns of street protests, alleges administrative bias
Staff Reporter :
The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Tuesday raised strong objections over what it described as administrative partiality in the ongoing nomination scrutiny process, warning of street protests if any attempt is made to engineer a one-sided election.
The concerns were voiced by NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin.
Speaking to reporters, Asif said recent decisions by returning officers reflected “clear bias” and inconsistent application of rules, creating what he called a dangerous environment ahead of the upcoming national polls.
“The responsibility to ensure a fair, credible and democratic election lies primarily with the government and the Election Commission,” he said, adding that the NCP would not remain silent if voters were “deceived once again.”
Asif cited Sylhet as a key example of what he alleged to be discriminatory treatment.
He said the nomination of NCP candidate for Sylhet-1, Etesham Haque, was cancelled after he sought time to submit documents related to dual citizenship. In contrast, he claimed, a BNP candidate in Sylhet-3 facing a similar issue was allowed to retain a valid nomination on the condition that the required papers would be submitted later.
“These contrasting decisions in identical circumstances expose a pattern of partiality,” Asif said.
He further alleged that candidates from major political parties were being cleared despite serious irregularities in their affidavits.
Referring to Comilla-4, Asif claimed a BNP candidate there had been declared valid despite allegedly concealing information about loan defaults amounting to nearly Tk100 crore, even though the matter was reportedly under a High Court stay order.
In another constituency, he alleged, a BNP candidate failed to disclose Tk190 crore in loan defaults and was allegedly a foreign citizen, yet still received clearance to contest.
Beyond nomination scrutiny, the NCP spokesperson also questioned the conduct of the administration. While acknowledging that officials have historically leaned toward major political forces, he said the current situation was “particularly alarming.”
He claimed that senior government officials and heads of intelligence agencies were being seen frequently at the office of a specific political party even before voters had expressed their mandate, calling it a violation of service rules and a threat to democratic norms.
Asif specifically referred to reports of the head of the National Security Intelligence meeting with BNP leaders at their office, saying such developments had intensified public anxiety about the neutrality of the election process.
Warning of a repeat of past controversial elections, he said there was growing fear among citizens that the polls could again be marred by administrative bias, one-sided conduct, ballot stuffing, night-time voting, or be settled through behind-the-scenes arrangements.
He cautioned that any sign of partiality or weakness toward major parties during the appeal hearings would further damage public confidence in the Election Commission.
“Our position is clear,” Asif said. “If we see any move towards a one-sided election, the NCP will take to the streets.”