BNP has expressed concern over the overseas postal ballot system and sought clarification from the Election Commission (EC) over alleged irregularities, following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting on Thursday, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Chowdhury said the party discussed several issues with the commission, with particular emphasis on the postal voting process for expatriate voters.
He claimed that videos circulating on social media showed large numbers of postal ballots, sometimes between 200 and 300, being found at single residential addresses.
He also alleged that in some areas voting had begun before the scheduled date and that postal ballots were being received using identification numbers belonging to other voters.
Salahuddin said overseas voting is being introduced for the first time and acknowledged that some mistakes could occur, but added that the alleged irregularities had adversely affected the BNP.
He further alleged that certain actions appeared to have been taken in favour of a particular political party.
The BNP leader said the party asked the EC to explain the procedures for preparing, dispatching and receiving postal ballots, as well as how expatriate voters were instructed to cast their votes.
According to Salahuddin, the Election Commission assured the BNP delegation that the issues would be discussed at a commission meeting and that explanations would be provided in due course.
He also raised concerns over restrictions in the electoral code of conduct regarding voter slips.
He argued that voter slips help voters easily identify their preferred candidates and said the ban on including party names, candidate names and electoral symbols on the slips should be reconsidered to facilitate voting.
Salahuddin said some matters discussed during the meeting could not be disclosed as they were linked to ongoing appeal hearings.
He also said BNP chairman Tarique Rahman had postponed a planned visit at the request of the Election Commission, clarifying that the visit was not intended for election campaigning.
Additionally, Salahuddin said the BNP proposed using the same ballot papers used in each constituency as postal ballots for expatriate voters of that constituency, describing the proposal as practical and reasonable.
