The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday accused leaders of a rival political party of deliberately reviving a false and deceptive ‘world champion of corruption’ narrative against the BNP, claiming the allegation was rooted in the country’s past authoritarian regime and aimed at misleading voters before the national elections.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital Dhaka, BNP election steering committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin, also the party chairman’s adviser, said that it was astonishing that the party was now promoting the allegation had itself been part of the government between 2001 and 2006, with two ministers and several members of parliament.
Mahdi observed that no such allegation was raised by that party when it was in office, saying that its current stance amounted to political hypocrisy.
During the 2001–2006 tenure of the BNP-led four-party alliance, two ministers from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami served in the government.
The press conference was held at the BNP’s election management office at Gulshan in the capital.
Mahdi claimed that it was nationally recognised that the level of corruption declined during the BNP’s tenure in government.
Citing international indices, he said that Bangladesh’s corruption score stood at 0.4 in October 2001, reflecting the record of the previous administration that governed from 1996 to 2001.
Mahdi said that the BNP’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption led to steady improvements, with the score rising to 2.0 by the time the party left office in 2006.
The BNP further alleged that the rival party, while seeking votes, was exploiting religious sentiments by making promises of heaven, asking voters to swear on the Quran, and even offering money through mobile financial services.
Mahdi said that such actions contradicted claims of integrity, arguing that attempts to buy votes undermined the moral standing of those making corruption accusations.
Referring to a recent rally in Bogura, Mahdi said that a leader of a party had announced plans to establish a public university and upgrade Bogura municipality to a city corporation, despite both initiatives already having received state approval and being under administrative process.
The BNP election steering committee spokesperson also condemned the reported sacking of a mosque muezzin at Sapahar in Naogaon under pressure from activists of a political party for campaigning in favour of the BNP’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy.
He described the incident as a gross violation of democratic rights and demanded the immediate reinstatement of the muezzin.
Mahdi drew attention to a video circulated by the media in which a candidate of that party in Sylhet was heard claiming that, if elected, the police would not be able to enter anyone’s home without his permission.
He termed the statement unconstitutional and contrary to administrative discipline, saying it reflected an authoritarian mindset, and urged the Election Commission to take appropriate action.
Referring to a recent Election Commission notice, the BNP welcomed the commission’s call for strict adherence to the electoral code of conduct.
The notice warned against the collection of voters’ personal information and national identity cards under the guise of election campaigning, noting that such actions violated rules.
