Level playing field absent

National Citizen Party and Islami Andolan Bangladesh yesterday told the Election Commission that a level playing field remains absent in the country ahead of the February 12 polls, citing poor law and order and preferential treatment for some political parties.

After separate meetings with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, NCP highlighted the deteriorating law-and-order situation, while IAB said some parties are receiving VVIP protocol, undermining electoral fairness.

Following a meeting between a four-member NCP delegation and the CEC at the EC headquarters, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan described the election-time law-and-order situation as "very disappointing".

"Since the day after the schedule was announced, we saw a marked criminal who had recently been released on bail, kill one of our comrades," he said, referring to the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho and a prominent youth leader of the July uprising. "This incident has further intensified people's concerns regarding this election."

He also criticised the lack of visible security measures, saying the party urged the EC to increase law enforcement presence at the grassroots level.

Raising doubts over whether the February 12 election would be free and fair, Asif said, "In the last three elections, we've seen administrative bias, ballot stuffing, and rigging under the cover of night. This has created fear that such practices could recur."

On the appeal process over nomination papers, he said the NCP wants neutrality. "We do not want any favoritism or preference towards any big party. Our desire is to build a democratic Bangladesh -- something we haven't seen in the last 17 years."

He also warned against any attempt to undermine the electoral process. "If that happens, we will not sit idle. If necessary, we will return to the streets to fight for free and fair elections."

Referring to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's arrival, Asif said the differential treatment accorded to a party leader was "an ominous sign for Bangladesh's democracy".

"Regular visits by government officials and intelligence agency heads to a party office pose a threat to democracy," he added.

Meanwhile, after a five-member IAB delegation met the CEC, party spokesperson and senior joint secretary general Gazi Ataur Rahman said, "In various areas, one or two political parties are being given VVIP protocol. This has raised questions in the public mind and is an obstacle to a level playing field ahead of the election."

He also criticised what he termed excessive reactions following BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's death. "We mourn her passing, but the national mourning has been overstated. Schools and government institutions declared three days of mourning, and if this continues for months, especially during election time, it will be too much," he said, urging the EC to prevent political exploitation of the issue.

Meanwhile, on the second day of filing appeals against returning officers' decisions on nomination papers, 122 appeals were submitted to the EC yesterday, raising the total to 164 over two days.

According to EC data, the appeals were filed across 10 regions: Rangpur (10), Rajshahi (17), Khulna (16), Barishal (5), Mymensingh (16), Dhaka (23), Faridpur (5), Sylhet (8), Comilla (14), and Chattogram (8).

Earlier, on December 3, returning officers cancelled the candidacies of 723 individuals after scrutiny. The total number of valid candidates now stands at 1,842.