Dhaka:Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance on Wednesday warned of a nationwide movement if the Thakurgaon-1 by-election, scheduled for Thursday, is not conducted fairly.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the alliance's coordinator, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, expressed this warning at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city, stating that any unfair situation in the Thakurgaon by-election could escalate the movement across Bangladesh.
Earlier, Azad led an 11-party alliance delegation to meet Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin to discuss their concerns about the Thakurgaon by-election and the upcoming local government elections. The alliance demanded the removal of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khairul Islam, citing his alleged influence on the election, and called for a departmental inquiry against him. They submitted complaints regarding alleged attacks and intimidation affecting their campaign activities in the Thakurgaon-1 constituency, which became vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir assumed the presidency.
Azad criticized the Election Commission for only barring the UNO from election duties instead of removing him from his post. He emphasized that if the election is not neutral, the alliance will consider the EC's actions as merely an eyewash, and the election outcome will determine their participation in future local elections.
Concerns were also raised about the safety of Hindu voters in the constituency. The alliance called for the polling, vote counting, and result announcement to be monitored by CCTV cameras, with immediate action taken against any irregularities. Azad recalled the 1994 Magura-2 by-election, which led to a significant movement and the eventual fall of the BNP government in 1996. He noted that the EC assured them of adequate law enforcement in the area and promised action if any irregularities were detected.
The delegation also expressed apprehension regarding the timing and potential government influence on the upcoming local government elections.