The National Citizen Party on Thursday expressed the party’s scepticism about the Election Commission’s neutrality and capacity to hold the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections in a free, fair and neutral manner.
The party’s chief coordinator, Nasiruddin Patwary, just after the chief election commissioner’s election scheduled announcement, shared his party’s view with journalists at the party’s temporary office in the capital’s Banglamotor area.
He praised the interim government and the Election Commission for announcing the election schedule, but said, ‘There is a lack of neutrality and capacity.’
Citing that NCP campaigners were stabbed in Narayanganj and that the use of illegal arms had been exposed in many places, he said that his party had serious doubts about how effectively the Election Commission would be able to control muscle power, undisclosed money, and the influence of godfathers to ensure a fair election.
‘We also doubt how far the Election Commission can act independently, and remain free from partisan influence,’ he added.
Saying that the interim government was posting deputy commissioners and superintendents of police through a lottery system, he questioned the process at it seemed non-transparent to the NCP.
Nasiruddin said that his party sought clarification from the interim government about the questions of the scheduled referendum to be held simultaneously with the Jatiya Sangsad elections.
‘We received no answers so far,’ he said.
Confirming that the NCP will participate in the upcoming national election, he urged the voters to guard the polling booths so that no party’s hoodlums could take control of them.
He added that he did not see sufficient capacity in the law enforcement agencies.
‘We had also called for a reconstitution of the current Election Commission. But the election is going to be held under them,’ he added.
Nasiruddin said that his party-nominated contestants were strictly instructed to follow the Election Commission-set code of conduct.
He expressed his hope that the commission would ensure enforcement of the code of conduct also on contestants from the other political parties.
‘Otherwise, we will assume the Election Commission is acting in a discriminatory manner,’ he said.
