Dhaka: Advisor to the BNP Chairman and spokesperson for the Election Steering Committee, Mahdi Amin, today voiced concerns over the fairness of the upcoming election process, stating that a level playing field is being eroded and a controversial election process looms.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mahdi Amin made these remarks at a press conference held at the party’s election office in Gulshan. He expressed that the public expects equal opportunities for all political parties in the forthcoming election, yet recent developments have shown the destruction of this level playing field and the potential for a contentious election process.
Amin highlighted that a particular political party is exploiting religious sentiments for personal gain. He cited media reports of individuals being coerced into swearing on the Holy Quran to vote for a specific party symbol, a clear breach of the electoral code of conduct. Furthermore, he accused this party of collecting national identity cards and Bkash numbers from citizens, an act he described as having harmful intentions.
Regarding postal ballots, Amin noted that social media had reported instances in Middle Eastern countries like Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia where workers of a specific party allegedly possessed large numbers of ballots, raising concerns over illegal bloc voting. Amin emphasized the need for fairness in expatriate voting, a system initiated by BNP.
Amin also criticized the design of postal ballots, claiming the ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol of BNP is placed in a less visible position, which could lead to voter confusion. He suggested simple changes in layout could eliminate such biases.
He addressed issues surrounding dual citizenship, stating that some BNP candidates abroad have been unfairly scrutinized despite following legal procedures to renounce foreign citizenship upon nomination. He argued that Article 66 of the Constitution leaves no room for dispute in this matter.
Amin further criticized the electoral environment, noting that while some parties openly campaign, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman was requested by the Election Commission to postpone personal visits out of respect for the election code, a request he honored. The perceived bias of the Election Commission was labeled unexpected by Amin.
He addressed misinformation on social media, confirming that Barrister Zaima Rahman’s accounts are officially verified, and warned against misleading content from fake accounts. He also clarified that Dr. Zubaida Rahman has no social media presence.
In efforts to engage with the public, BNP has launched a call center and “Match My Policy” initiative to gather feedback on party policies. Amin announced that Tarique Rahman will start his campaign in Sylhet on January 22, with further details forthcoming.
Lastly, Amin reiterated BNP’s commitment to political reforms, aligning with their stance in the National Consensus Commission and supporting the ‘Yes’ vote in a forthcoming referendum, consistent with their historical role in advocating for change.