Mirza Faysal Amin, candidate of the BNP for Thakurgaon-1 constituency, claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami and activists of the 11-party alliance are systematically spreading false and fabricated allegations to make the upcoming by-election questionable and controversial.
Speaking at an emergency press conference organised around 9:15 pm on Wednesday, he claimed that witnessing a mass wave in favour of the “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol, opponents are attempting to confuse voters through propaganda and provocative speeches.
The candidate said that from the beginning of the election campaign, the candidate of Jamaat with the “Sheaf of Scales” symbol and his activists have been launching personal attacks, making obscene and provocative speeches, and issuing threats. He added that speeches intended to make the Thakurgaon by-election questionable were also delivered from the divisional rally of the 11-party alliance in Rangpur.
He alleged that with the intention of making the election controversial, opponents systematically submitted a series of false complaints to the returning officer and the election inquiry and investigation committee. Following those complaints, a show-cause notice was issued to him, but he maintained that the allegations were proven false through appropriate replies and investigation.
The candidate said that although voter turnout in by-elections is usually relatively low, widespread enthusiasm is visible in Thakurgaon-1 constituency. He expressed that a mass wave in favour of the Sheaf of Paddy has been generated due to development activities of the current government and various development initiatives undertaken in Thakurgaon, prompting opponents to attempt to make the election questionable.
Faysal Amin also alleged that the Jamaat candidate publicly threatened to gouge out eyes and break hands, expressing that it was incomprehensible how a candidate could make such public statements. Furthermore, he alleged that Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and indigenous community voters are being threatened against going to polling centres. He claimed to have submitted multiple complaints with evidence to the returning officer regarding these incidents without receiving any redress.
At the press conference, he said preparations have been completed to conduct a fair, peaceful, and neutral election through the spontaneous participation of voters of all classes, professions, and religions. He urged voters to ignore all threats and go to centres fearlessly to cast their votes for their preferred candidate. He simultaneously requested the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies to ensure a fair voting environment, while asking journalists to publish neutral news.
In response to questions from journalists, Faysal Amin said counter-allegations exist among candidates in any election. However, he claimed that the opponent’s allegations in this election are baseless and imaginary, whereas those raised by his side are specific.
