Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that its candidates are being harassed in some areas by magistrates and election officials.
The party claimed that such actions are being taken on the officials’ own initiative, even where no formal complaints have been lodged, raising concerns about the neutrality of the administration ahead of the upcoming national election scheduled for 12 February.
“In several areas, candidates of certain parties are continuing their campaign freely. Again, (false) complaints are being filed against us. Even though complaints are not filed in some places, magistrates and election officials are harassing us on their own initiative,” said Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
A Jamaat delegation, led by Hamidur Rahman Azad, met the CEC at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital in the afternoon.
The Jamaat leader claimed that the candidates of certain parties are not facing any action for violating the electoral code of conduct, but Jamaat candidates are being subjected to complaints, fines and notices in many places.
There are piles of complaints (lodged by us), but no action has been taken, and this indicates that electoral equality is not being maintained, he alleged.
“On the one hand, they are violating the code of conduct. But there is no action against them. And those who are not violating the code of conduct, they are being served with fines and notices to harass them on the other hand. We have told the commission – this must be stopped,” said Azad, also a Jamaat candidate for Cox’s Bazar-2.
