With hours to go before the 13th parliamentary election, BNP and Jamaat have adopted an “alert position” at centres deemed risky due to concerns over electoral fraud and ballot box stuffing.
This approach is reflected in the statements of candidates and leaders involved in the election process.
In addition to the capital, constituencies in Jashore, Satkhira, Pabna, and Narail have reported locally based monitoring and precautionary measures at polling centres.
In some areas, “Centre Occupation Prevention Committees” have been formed, which will be deployed from the night before the election until the announcement of results.
While these measures have received mixed reactions from voters, leaders from both parties have expressed confidence in the Election Commission.
Both BNP and Jamaat central leaders have distanced themselves from the term “Prevention Committee,” emphasising that these are simply precautionary measures. They stress that these preparations are designed to prevent any attempts at centre occupation or electoral fraud.
Jasmin Tuli, former additional secretary of the Election Commission and a member of the Interim Government’s Election Reform Committee, said, “Mutual accusations are not new in Bangladesh elections.
“However, the Election Commission must remain vigilant to ensure that these fears do not lead to conflict.”
Sources suggest that both parties are strategising based on the likelihood of ballot stuffing or centre occupation, with mutual distrust also evident among central leadership.
Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and chairman of its Election Management Committee, said, “We have not formed any committees. However, if anyone attempts any wrongdoing at polling centres, our activists are prepared to prevent it.
“We trust the Election Commission.”
Meanwhile, Jamaat leaders have expressed concerns about potential vote rigging or centre occupation through various tactics. Drawing on past experiences and ground-level information, they have adopted a vigilant stance.
Mobarok Hossain, a member of Jamaat’s Central Executive Committee, said, “We do not want to engage in conflict. However, if anyone attempts to occupy centres or prevent voters from reaching the polling stations, our workers are on standby to stop them.
“This is not a centre-based committee, but a preparedness among our workers.”
Voters, in general, expect a peaceful election and hope to exercise their voting rights without fear or confrontation.
To ensure a smooth election process, the Election Commission has increased surveillance and alertness around the risky centres in the final hours before polling.
Analysts note that while such concerns and allegations are not new in Bangladesh’s electoral history, this trend appears to be more pronounced in this election.
Habibur Rahman Habib, BNP’s candidate for Pabna-4, told TIMES, “Concerns about electoral fraud at eight to nine centres in my constituency have been raised. Our workers are on standby at these centres.”
On the other hand, Golam Kuddus, assistant secretary of Jamaat’s Jessore District and head of its district election management committee, said, “Concerns about centre occupation exist at some centres in Jessore district.
“We have assigned a specific number of workers locally to prevent any fraud or centre occupation.”
Voters continue to hope for a free, fair, and impartial election and expect to participate peacefully in the election process.
