Jamaat, NCP allege election code breaches

Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party yesterday alleged widespread violations of the electoral code of conduct ahead of the 13th national election and referendum scheduled for February 12.

Jamaat leaders claimed their female activists have faced harassment and targeted attacks in several areas, including incidents of veil removal, phone snatching, and alleged inaction by law enforcers.

“Assaults have been deliberately carried out on our activists over the past few days. They [female Jamaat activists] are being harassed, humiliated, and in some places, asked to remove their veils. Many have had their mobile phones snatched,” Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahboob Zubair told reporters following a meeting between a Jamaat delegation and the chief election commissioner at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon.

Such incidents are repeatedly occurring in the Dhaka-15, as well as in other constituencies in the capital and across the country, he added.

Zubair, also head of the party’s publicity and media wing, said, “In the past four days, we have observed with concern and anxiety that if these issues are not controlled, the situation may worsen further before the election.”

Criticising law enforcement agencies, Zubair said complaints were lodged immediately in affected areas, but no visible action was taken.

Jamaat leaders also demanded the installation of CCTV cameras at all polling centres and urged the EC and administration to play a stronger role in ensuring a level playing field.

Meanwhile, NCP leaders also claimed that opposition groups in several constituencies are flouting regulations with little administrative intervention.

They said their Dhaka-18 candidate’s campaign came under attack and warned that such incidents send a “negative signal” to the electoral process.

Following a meeting with the CEC, NCP Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah said such assaults challenge the EC’s ability to ensure a level playing field until polling day.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Ayman Raha voiced concern over security risks, saying that attacks occurring “even in the presence of candidates were deeply troubling”.

He alleged that they are complying with electoral codes while their opponents are flouting the rules and that the administration remains inactive.

Ayman accused BNP’s Dhaka-8 candidate of using government vehicles, saying, “When such things happen openly and no action is taken, the public becomes fearful… we realise we are not getting a true level playing field.”

Earlier, in the afternoon, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said a “level playing field” is in place ahead of the votes.

During a press briefing at the EC, Akhtar, when asked about a level playing field in the election, replied, “Of course it does. The very fact that candidates can lodge complaints and run campaigns shows that a level playing field exists. If it didn’t, what would have happened?”