Manjurul Ahsan Munshi summoned over allegations of threatening voters

The Election Investigation and Judicial Committee has summoned expelled BNP leader Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, who lost his candidacy, over allegations of threatening voters in the Cumilla-4 Debidwar constituency.

He has been asked to appear in person with a written explanation by 2:30pm on Wednesday.

The matter was confirmed by Cumilla additional district magistrate Mohammad Jafar Sadiq Chowdhury.

The order was issued on Tuesday night by senior civil judge Tafrima Tabassum, who is in charge of the election investigation and judicial committee for Cumilla-4.

Earlier, the Debidwar upazila nirbahi officer and assistant returning officer filed a written complaint with the committee, accusing Munshi of intimidating voters.

In a video that recently circulated on social media, Munshi is heard saying, “If the BNP comes to power and you vote for another party, I will not spare any of you. If necessary, I will burn your houses and destroy everything.”

Denying the allegation, Munshi told journalists that the remarks were made out of personal frustration in front of close relatives in his own area. He also claimed that the final part of the video was cut and circulated with malicious intent as part of what he described as “dirty politics”.

Earlier on Tuesday night, the BNP expelled him from the party over statements that violated party policy and discipline.

Local sources said the remarks were made late Monday night during a courtyard meeting in the Dhalapukur Par area of Gunai Ghar Union in Debidwar, on the final day of election campaigning.