Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal continued its protest at the Election Commission for the second consecutive day on Monday, accusing the commission of political bias and controversial decisions over postal ballots and student elections.
Leaders and activists of the BNP-affiliated student organisation gathered outside the EC building in Agargaon in the morning and laid siege to the premises, chanting slogans and demanding what they called a neutral and accountable electoral process.
The organisation alleged that the commission is taking rushed decisions on postal ballots under political pressure and that such actions threaten electoral neutrality.
It also pointed to a recent notification regarding the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology student union election, describing it as politically motivated and harmful to campus democracy.
Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib told reporters on previous day at the site that the protest would continue until the commission demonstrates impartiality. He said the organisation launched the programme to resist “unethical interference” in ballot handling and election preparations.
The protest follows a similar sit-in on Sunday, during which Chhatra Dal accused the commission of undermining public confidence in the electoral process and surrendering its independence to a particular political group.
The EC on Sunday concluded the final day of appeal hearings against returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Of the 723 rejected candidates, 645 filed appeals, and candidacy was restored to 397 applicants.
Chhatra Dal leaders said the commission must act transparently during the remaining stages of the election process to guarantee fairness.
