National Citizen Party (NCP)CP has once again raised its voice for the reconstitution of Election Commission (EC) and the holding of local government polls ahead of the upcoming general election.
“The interim government formed this commission before reforming the institutions, which were destroyed by laws passed by the fascist Awami League government, despite our concerns about a national crisis,” said NCP member secretary Nasir Uddin Patwari.
He said this during a demonstration organised by the new political platform’s Dhaka Metropolitan Committee outside the election watchdog’s headquarters in Agargaon Administrative Area on Wednesday.
The way the interim government formed this commission was a direct betrayal to the spirit of the July revolution, commented the NCP leader.
Despite being a constitutional entity, he alleged, the EC is acting like a spokesperson for Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
“There can be no fair elections if EC is not formed following proper ways. It seems the EC headquarters has turned into another office of BNP,” Patwari continued.
Demanding the trial of the commissions that held unfair elections in the past, he said those destroyers of democracy are still at large and roaming without hindrance.
Patwari warned that those who served Sheikh Hasina and the AL regime for the past 15 years must be brought under law immediately. Otherwise, students and the masses will take this matter into their own hands and hand those over to law-enforcers.
NCP Joint Convenor Sarwar Tushar said, “We have gathered here today to press for local government elections first and the reconstitution of the Election Commission.”
“These demands are mainly directed at the interim government. But for some time now, we’ve seen the EC is behaving in a biased manner. That is why we are protesting,” he added.
Earlier, hundreds of NCP leaders and activists gathered outside the EC office with the two-point demand.
The demonstration began around noon as participants converged on the EC headquarters carrying banners and chanting slogans.
The protest followed a pre-announced programme by the party, which has increasingly voiced concerns over what it claims is the EC’s partisan conduct.
The call for restructuring the EC comes amid heightened political tension ahead of the upcoming general elections, scheduled for late 2025 or early 2026.
Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the EC is discharging its responsibilities with utmost sincerity and impartiality.
“The Election Commission will continue to perform its duties in an impartial manner,” he told reporters after a meeting of the EC with Chief Election Commissioner AMM
Nasir Uddin in the chair the same day.
Replying to a query about a movement by NCP, Sanaullah said, “We don’t want to make any comment on political activities. The EC doesn’t have the authority to decide which election—national or local—will be held first. That decision lies with the government. Our duty is only to conduct the elections.”