National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari on Thursday said his party is receiving a strong response from voters in Dhaka-8, expressing optimism about the electoral outcome.
Patwari visited several polling centres in the constituency, including Mirza Abbas Mohila College in Shahjahanpur, where he spoke to journalists around 11:30am.
He said voters were showing support for the NCP’s electoral symbol, “Shapla Koli” (water lily bud).
“We are getting a huge response from people,” he said, adding that the party’s growing popularity had led to what he described as intimidation of its supporters in some areas.
The NCP leader voiced confidence that the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami would secure victory and form the next government.
He also alleged that India was backing the BNP and claimed that the Awami League and India were effectively aligned against Jamaat and the NCP in the election.
“Despite this, we remain hopeful of winning,” Patwari said, adding that if his alliance comes to power, it would take action against extortionists and corrupt individuals.
He further alleged that agents representing the Jatiya Party’s “plough” symbol were working in favour of BNP candidate Mirza Abbas, who is contesting with the “sheaf of paddy” symbol. However, he did not specify which polling centres were involved.
In response, agents of both the ‘plough’ and ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbols, requesting anonymity, rejected Patwari’s allegations as unfounded.
Meanwhile, Presiding Officer Nurul Islam said that 32.95 per cent of votes had been cast at the Motijheel Ideal School and College centre by 12:08pm. He described the voting process as peaceful and orderly.
After visiting the centre, Patwari acknowledged that voting was “more or less peaceful,” while reiterating his claim that his party was receiving strong voter backing across the constituency.
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