The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance on Sunday called on the Election Commission to recount votes in 32 constituencies, alleging manipulation during vote counting and the publication of results in the national election.
Representatives of the Jamaat-led alliance met an Election Commissioner at the Election Building in Agargaon.
Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General A H M Hamidur Rahman Azad said they raised concerns over vote counting and the publication of results.
“We have identified 32 constituencies where we were defeated by narrow margins amid alleged irregularities,” he said. “Similar incidents occurred in the cases of leaders of Khelafat Majlis, myself as Jamaat Secretary General and the Chief Coordinator of the NCP, among others. We have submitted the list to the Election Commission and requested recounts.”
The Election Commission said the gazette of the 13th National Parliament election had already been published with the list of winners elected by public vote, leaving no administrative scope for further action. It added that legal avenues remained open for election-related complaints.
Alleging that the hurried publication of the gazette had raised questions over fairness, Hamidur Rahman said the alliance would seek legal remedy.
“The election was held on 12 February and the gazette was published at 11 pm on 13 February. Candidates were informed there was no scope for complaints after the gazette was issued. Yet, on the morning of 13 February, representatives of Jamaat and the NCP appealed to the commission not to publish the gazette,” he said.
He urged the commission to suspend the gazette of the disputed constituencies and republish it after a transparent recount.
“They say their intention is good and that the doors of the law are open. We have heard that. We have submitted our complaints and will pursue the legal process. But our rights have been undermined,” he said.
The Jamaat leader said expectations of a credible and historic election were not fully realised.
“After the farcical elections of the past, we hoped to witness a meaningful and historic election. However, much of that expectation has not been fulfilled,” he said.
Referring to voting, counting and result declaration on 12 February, he said polling day showed some qualitative improvement compared with previous elections.
“There were no killings or large-scale violence. But the overall environment was unhealthy in various ways. The beginning was promising, but the ending was not,” he said. “There were allegations of ballot stuffing, widespread use of black money and incidents of threats and clashes in some areas. These factors have created grounds to question the credibility of the election.”
He alleged that although chief agents filed complaints, no effective measures were taken.
“Despite the presence of law enforcement agencies and joint forces, more than 400 lost pistols have not yet been recovered. Illegal weapons remain in circulation. These factors have influenced the election,” he said.
He also claimed attempts at manipulation in some centres, alleging that officials and party activists stamped ballot papers and that intimidation led to comparatively low turnout in certain areas.
“Despite raising these issues locally and with the Election Commission on behalf of the 11-party alliance, we did not receive satisfactory action,” he said.
He claimed irregularities were evident in voting and that counting in some centres was not conducted in a fair environment.
“It is natural that such circumstances would affect the results. As a result, flawed result sheets have been produced,” he said.
Others present at the briefing included 11-party alliance Liaison Committee Media Coordinator Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, Jamaat leader Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen, Labour Party leader Mostafizur Rahman Iran and central leaders of the NCP.
