Bogura-6, Sherpur-3: Jamaat seeks polls cancellation over ‘irregularities’

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday staged a protest rally in Dhaka, alleging widespread irregularities, including vote rigging, ballot stuffing, grabbing of polling centres, and attacks on opposition activists during the Sherpur-3 parliamentary election and the Bogura-6 by-poll.

The elections to the two constitutions were held on April 9. BNP candidates won in both seats.

The rally was held at the north gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Juma prayers, followed by a protest procession that marched through Paltan intersection and ended at Bijoynagar roundabout.

Speaking at the event as chief guest, the party’s secretary general, Mia Golam Porwar, termed the elections in the two constituencies “farcical” and demanded cancellation of the results.

“The scale of vote rigging, occupation of polling centres, ballot stuffing, and attacks on opposition leaders and activists in the first election under the BNP’s tenure has surpassed even that of the Awami League regime,” Porwar said.

He alleged that despite media reports on irregularities and attacks on opposition activists, the chief election commissioner “made a mockery of the nation” by claiming the polls were fair.

Referring to the referendum, the Jamaat leader said the BNP had pledged before the national elections to fully implement its outcome if it won. “But after forming the government, they are annulling the referendum order. This double standard is a betrayal to the nation and a grave dishonour to the blood of martyrs,” he also said.

Alleging that the BNP is moving towards fascism by ignoring the referendum’s verdict, he added that if the prime minister, home minister, law minister, and other ministers and MPs cannot accept the verdict of 70 percent of voters in the referendum, they should declare in parliament that they did not vote “yes”.

It would not be possible to stay in power by betraying the people and standing against them, he warned. “To remain in power, the BNP itself must resolve the ongoing political crisis,” Porwar added.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, a member of Jamaat’s central executive council and ameer of Dhaka North city unit, presided over the rally.