Doubt remains over free and fair election: Rizvi

The BNP has expressed continued doubts over the possibility of holding free and fair elections in the country. Speaking to reporters on Sunday following a meeting with Election Commission officials, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the party remains skeptical despite assurances from the Commission.

“We still have concerns regarding the likelihood of a free and fair election,” Rizvi stated. “We questioned the Commission about their preparations. Elements loyal to the ruling party remain embedded within the administration, and they may attempt to interfere with the electoral process. We wanted to know how the Commission plans to handle this.”

The BNP delegation, led by Rizvi, met with Senior Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud and Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar. According to Rizvi, the Commission assured them it is preparing meticulously to conduct a fair election.

Discussions during the meeting also covered the Representation of the People Order (RPO), constituency boundary re-demarcation, and the inclusion of expatriate voters.

“We talked about the overall issue of constituency delimitation, but no specific seats were discussed,” Rizvi said.

He further noted that the party visited the Commission to understand its overall readiness ahead of the election. “We expect the Election Commission to fulfill its constitutional duties. Decisions regarding party registration rest solely with the Commission.”

Rizvi concluded by reiterating the BNP’s expectation that the Election Commission will ensure an inclusive, participatory election with the involvement of all political parties.