BNP takes action to exclude election manipulators ahead of national polls

In preparation for the upcoming national elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has started identifying officials who they believe were involved in vote manipulation during previous elections. 

The party is working to create a list of controversial individuals—such as teachers, returning officers, presiding officers, and polling agents—who were allegedly part of rigging the vote over the last 15 years. 

The goal is to ensure that these people are not included in future election duties.

Several BNP leaders shared with UNB that during a recent online meeting, the acting chairman of the party directed members to compile this list and submit it to Upazila Election Offices in each district. 

The BNP wants these individuals excluded from any election-related roles going forward, especially as the country heads into a crucial election season.

The party also mentioned that it has urged its leaders and activists across the country to remain vigilant as the Election Commission begins the nationwide voter list updating process. 

This is to make sure that the job is done fairly and correctly.

Apart from this, Tarique Rahman, a key BNP leader, has asked the party to speed up the formation of new committees for local units where leadership has expired. 

These committees will help strengthen the party before the elections.

One senior BNP leader, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concerns about the challenges the party might face in the next election. 

He said, 

"First of all, the government seems to be dragging its feet on reforms. We‍‍`re getting ready to put pressure on them to complete the necessary reforms and hold the election by August or November."

He also spoke about the rise of a new political party backed by leaders of the Anti-Discrimination movement. 

"We don’t mind if anyone from another party forms a new one, but it should happen through the proper political process, without government interference," he said. 

The leader also raised concerns that such a new party, with government support, could sway the election unfairly. 

"We’re already preparing strategies to prevent vote rigging and other irregularities in the next election," he added.

To help prevent such issues, the BNP has started putting together a list of individuals, including teachers and government employees, who might be involved in election management. 

The party suspects that the current government is not acting impartially, and if this continues, the BNP may call for the election to be held under a neutral government.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made a statement during a BBC Bangla interview, stressing that a neutral government is needed if the interim government fails to maintain impartiality. 

"If representatives of these students are part of this government, neutrality cannot be maintained. If they think they can hold elections with their representatives in the government, political parties will not accept it," Fakhrul said.

The following day, he reiterated that the interim government was not being neutral on certain issues. 

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, another BNP Standing Committee member, shared that BNP leaders and activists are well aware of the election officers and officials who helped rig past elections. 

"We’ll provide this list to the Election Commission so that these individuals don’t play a role in the next election. If the government truly wants a free and fair election, they must exclude these questionable people," he said.

Mosharraf also emphasized the need for further revitalization of the BNP by forming committees at various levels of the party. 

"Party restructuring is a continuous effort, and we’re working to bring in new leadership," he explained.

When asked about the upcoming election, Mosharraf expressed confidence in the BNP’s preparation. 

"We’re ready for the election and demand it be held as soon as possible in the country’s best interest. There are efforts underway to destabilize the country, and we need to act fast," he said.

The BNP is closely watching the government‍‍`s actions, as well as moves from political parties and student leaders. 

"If there are any unfair attempts to delay or manipulate the election, we’ll take appropriate action to counter them," Mosharraf warned.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also voiced his concern about the possibility of a new political party being formed with state support. 

"It’s fine if a new party is formed by others, especially those from the Anti-Discrimination movement, but it should not be a party created with government backing," he said.