NCP alleges widespread irregularities, violence in election

NCP alleges widespread irregularities, violence in election

The National Citizen Committee (NCP) has alleged serious irregularities including violence, centre seizure, obstruction of polling agents, ballot snatching and cocktail explosions in the capital and various districts across the country during voting. NCP Election Conduct Committee Member Secretary Monira Sharmin raised these allegations at a press conference organised at Banglamotor at 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 12.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. If necessary, a decision will be taken to boycott or reject this election," she said at the press conference.

Monira Sharmin alleged that polling agents of the sheaf of paddy symbol were stationed inside polling booths wearing party badges at the Uttara High School and College centre in Dhaka-18 constituency, which is a clear violation of the electoral code of conduct. Additionally, the NCP candidate Nasiruddin Patowary's agent was obstructed from entering the Mirza Abbas Mohila Degree College centre in Dhaka-8 constituency. She also alleged that the chief agent of the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate in Pabna-1 constituency and the NCP candidate's chief agent in Brahmanbaria-3 constituency were forcibly evicted from centres.

Alleging widespread violence in Hatiya, Noakhali, the Member Secretary said NCP candidate Hannan Masud's wife and brother were assaulted and their mobile phones smashed. Journalist Miraj Uddin was attacked in the same area while performing his professional duties. Additionally, two Ansar members and a child were injured in cocktail explosions in Munshiganj and Gopalganj.

The NCP press conference informed that the administration recovered over a hundred stamped ballots after a ballot book was snatched in Sherpur-1 constituency. Many voters in Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj-1 constituencies found their votes already cast upon arriving at centres. In Tangail-8 constituency, an Assistant Presiding Officer was alleged to have stamped ballots for a specific symbol. Condemnation was also expressed regarding the presence of fake polling agents in Sonargaon, Narayanganj, attacks on journalists and supporters in Natore and Jashore, beating of female voters in Gazipur, and obstruction of voters and agents at various centres in Meherpur.

Monira Sharmin further stated that ballots were stamped in the absence of polling agents in Dhaka-17 constituency. If this allegation is proven true, Tarique Rahman must take responsibility, she said.

In the concluding part of the press conference, NCP leaders warned that if any party attempts to come to power through such fraud, the general public will not accept it.