Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged “vote robbery” during the first elections held under current BNP government, demanding the cancellation of results for Sherpur-3 and Bogura-6 constituencies and the announcement of a new schedule.
They raised this demand during a protest held at the north gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital following Friday prayers. The demonstration was organised to protest alleged vote rigging, attacks on activists, and “attempted murders” during the polls held previous day.
In the Sherpur-3 constituency – where the election had been previously postponed due to the death of a Jamaat candidate prior to the 12 February national polls – the party announced a boycott while voting was still underway.
According to results declared by the returning officer, BNP candidate Mahmudul Huq Rubel won with 166,117 votes, while his nearest rival, Jamaat’s Masudur Rahman, received 47,051 votes.
In Bogura-6, a seat vacated by now Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, BNP’s Rezaul Karim Badsha secured victory with 133,516 votes. The Jamaat candidate, Abidur Rahman Sohel, polled 56,904 votes. Sources noted that during the 12 February election, Tarique Rahman had secured 216,284 votes in this seat compared to Abidur’s 97,626.
Addressing the rally, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged that the elections were marred by “shameless” centre grabbing, ballot stuffing, and proxy voting. He claimed that Jamaat activists were brutally attacked, leaving one in critical condition in hospital.
Parwar further accused the administration and the Election Commission of failing to play an effective role in preventing violence despite being informed.
“It has been proven once again that fair elections are never possible under a partisan government,” Parwar stated.
He also accused the BNP of “duplicity” regarding the referendum and constitutional reforms, claiming the government is now attempting to cancel the “July Charter” and referendum plans it previously supported.
He described the government’s denial of the President’s 13 November, 2025, order on constitutional reform as “political dishonesty.”
Helaluddin, a member of the Jamaat Central Working Committee, described the electoral proceedings in Sherpur and Bogura as a “shameless act” involving engineering and fraud. He remarked, “This ‘fascism’ is doing in two months what Sheikh Hasina did in 17 years.”
From the rally, a series of week-long programmes was announced on behalf of the 11-party alliance starting from 9 April. These include a mass contact campaign, leaflet distribution, protests at metropolitan and district levels, national seminars, and exchange of views with activists of the July movement.
The assembly was presided over by Muhammad Selim Uddin, Amir of Jamaat Dhaka City North, and attended by Dhaka North Secretary Rezaul Karim and Dhaka South Assistant Secretary Abdul Mannan.
The event concluded with a protest march through various streets in the capital.
