Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, staged a demonstration on Sunday in front of Nirbachan Bhaban, accusing the Election Commission (EC) of biased and controversial actions ahead of the national election scheduled to be held on 12 February.
The sit-in began at 10am in Agargaon area of Dhaka, with activists raising three main allegations, including issues related to postal ballots and the Shahjalal University Central Student Union (SUCSU) election.
JCD leaders claimed that the EC’s decisions on postal ballots were questionable and undermined the fairness of the electoral process. They also alleged that the commission was making shortsighted and irresponsible decisions under pressure from certain political groups, casting doubt on its independence and professionalism.
Criticising the EC’s “unprecedented and controversial” notification on the SUCSU elections, the JCD warned that such interference poses a serious threat to democratic practices in the university.
“We have observed undue influence over the ballot papers, carried out with the direct encouragement and support of officials here at the EC,” said JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib during the protest.
Meanwhile, the EC continued its final-day hearing of appeal petitions related to the acceptance and cancellation of nomination papers during the scrutiny process.
Chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, the commission is scheduled to hear around 35 petitions on Sunday, including several concerning BNP and Jamaat candidates, before concluding the disposal of all appeals.
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