Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has accused authorities of intentionally delaying the results of several constituencies in the 13th parliamentary election, despite the completion of vote counting.
Speaking at a press conference held at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar at approximately 11:45pm on Thursday, the ameer was accompanied by leaders of the 11-party electoral alliance, including National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Mamunul Huq, and Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran.
Shafiqur stated that according to their information, their candidates were leading in several seats where counting was finished, yet local returning officers were withholding official announcements.
He noted that results had briefly appeared on the official website before vanishing, and party representatives were kept waiting for extended periods.
“We do not understand why this is happening. Even results for the Dhaka-8 seat got delayed,” he said, describing the situation as “unhealthy politics” and “cat-and-mouse games.”
While the Election Commission (EC) has assured that results will be released by 13 February, the ameer stated the alliance would wait for a “reasonable limit” before deciding on their next steps.
Regarding potential rigging, Shafiqur remarked that “many things have happened,” but he declined to provide specific details until they had been thoroughly verified. He also clarified that a list of 58 winning candidates posted on Jamaat’s official Facebook page was merely an “update” and not a final declaration.
Complaints lodged with EC
Earlier on Thursday, the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance and Islami Andolan held separate meetings with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin and Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed to report widespread irregularities.
Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim called for the cancellation of votes in specific centres within Cumilla-8, Shariatpur-2, and Patuakhali-1, citing voter intimidation and the expulsion of polling agents.
He further alleged that BNP activists had forcibly stamped ballots in Narsingdi-4, and reported additional irregularities in Noakhali and Jhalakathi.
Islami Andolan reports violence, harassment
Islami Andolan Bangladesh reported serious grievances in four constituencies.
According to Central Publicity Secretary Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf, their candidate for Noakhali-1, Zahirul Islam, was seriously injured in an attack in the Muhuruganj area, where voters were allegedly blocked from the polls while the administration remained inactive.
In Bhola-1, the party alleged that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel sided with “terrorists” to confine their agents until they were eventually rescued by the Army.
They also claimed that Jamaat activists in the same constituency forced female voters to cast ballots for the “Scale” symbol at Bankherhat Girls High School. Further allegations of agents being expelled and proxy voting by the BNP were reported in Patuakhali-1 and Narsingdi-5.
