‘EC not fit for holding credible polls’

The National Citizen Party spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain yesterday said his party has lost all confidence in the Election Commission’s ability to hold a credible and neutral election.

He said the EC no longer has the capacity to conduct fair polls.

“The Election Commission has legalised candidacies in violation of several existing laws, including those in the constitution and the Representation of the People Order [RPO]. This commission will not be able to organise a fair election,” he told a press briefing at the party’s central office in Banglamotor last night.

He said the EC had been holding hearings on the legality of candidacies until yesterday, and described the commission members’ meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir during verdict delivery as a “warning”.

“We believe the verdict is fabricated and predetermined.”

Asif, who also serves as chairman of the NCP’s Election Management Committee, said, “It is time to reconsider whether the National Citizen Party will participate in the upcoming polls.

“Our political council will decide on the matter after review. At the same time, discussions will be held with other political parties, including the [Jamaat-led] 10-party alliance, and the next course of action will be announced.”

He added, “We will continue consultations with all stakeholders and move forward with preparations for both legal action and street protests.”

NCP Election Legal Affairs Sub-Committee Chief and Joint Member Secretary Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa also alleged that despite around 20 BNP candidates holding dual citizenship, their nominations were declared valid.

“Had the EC properly followed electoral law, there would have been no scope for this,” he said.

Asif further alleged that the EC validated a BNP candidate with dual citizenship by deliberately allowing a mob to create pressure in front of the commission.

The NCP has officially announced its candidates for 27 seats.

The party yesterday released the names and photographs of the nominees on its verified Facebook page. All will contest the polls with “waterlily bud”, NCP’s electoral symbol. Two women are among the nominees.

According to the party’s announcement, NCP Convener Nahid Islam will run from Dhaka-11 and Member Secretary Akhter Hossen from Rangpur-4. Other top leaders in the race include Hasnat Abdullah from Cumilla-4, Sarjis Alam from Panchagarh-1, Nasiruddin Patwary from Dhaka-8, and Abdul Hannan Masud from Noakhali-6.

Ariful Islam Adeeb has been nominated for Dhaka-18, Dilshana Parul for Dhaka-19, Nabila Tasnid for Dhaka-20, Jabed Rasin for Dhaka-9, Ali Naser Khan for Gazipur-2, Abdullah Al Amin for Narayanganj-4, Sarwar Tushar for Narsingdi-2, and Mazedul Islam for Munshiganj-2.

The party also named candidates for various districts across the country. The list includes Mahbub Alam for Lakshmipur-1, SM Saif Mostafiz for Sirajganj-6, SM Suja Uddin for Bandarban, Maulana Ashraf Mahdi for Brahmanbaria-2, and Mohammad Ataullah for Brahmanbaria-3.

Besides, Jobairul Hasan Arif will run for Chattogram-8, Sultan Muhammad Zakaria for Noakhali-2, Md Abdul Ahad for Dinajpur-5, Atiq Mujahid for Kurigram-2, Zahidul Islam for Mymensingh-11, Saifullah Haider for Tangail-3, Shamim Hamidi for Pirojpur-3, and SM Jarjis Kadir for Natore-3.

The announcement follows a press conference held on Thursday by the 10-party electoral combine, where a consensus on 253 seats was declared.