The National Citizen Party on Wednesday expressed concern about the Election Commission’s capacity for holding the national polls on February 12 next year.
The party urged the commission to reconsider the dates for submission of nomination papers and withdrawal of candidature, keeping the voting date unchanged.
Speaking after a meeting between an NCP delegation and chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the commission headquarters in Dhaka, NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said that the party had requested the commission to consider whether these dates could be revised.
The Election Commission on December 11 announced the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, both set for February 12 next year.
According to the schedule, the last date for submission of nomination papers is December 29, scrutiny between December 30 and January 4, and the final date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.
The election campaign will run between January 22 and 7:30am on February 10, 48 hours before balloting.
Nasiruddin alleged that the Awami League was attempting to destabilise Bangladesh to delay the national election.
‘The Election Commission wants to conduct the election on February 12. From the National Citizen Party, we have emphasised that this date must not be postponed. We have requested the EC to ensure the polls are held on schedule,’ he said.
On concerns about the election, Nasiruddin said that the NCP was aware of risks, including the killing of one aspirant, and urged the EC to ensure security for all candidates.
‘We have asked the Election Commission not to make any small mistakes that can cause the polling date to be postponed,’ he said.
The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on the other hand, on Wednesday urged the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field in the upcoming elections, saying that providing VVIP facilities to some candidates and denying them to others undermines fairness.
‘If some individuals receive numerous facilities, including VVIP privileges, while others do not, that cannot be considered a level playing field,’ said Jamaat assistant secretary general Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair while talking to reporters after a meeting with the chief election commissioner at Nirbachon Bhaban.
A three-member Jamaat delegation met the chief election commissioner to discuss their concerns.
Zubair said that senior party leaders, including the Jamaat amir and the party’s secretary general, would be conducting extensive tours across the country during the election period, and the party had highlighted their security needs.
He emphasised that ensuring equal treatment for all candidates was crucial for the credibility and fairness of the electoral process.
