NCP has accused government officials of showing favoritism toward a particular political party, which it described as its ‘Qibla’ (focal point of loyalty or alignment), warning that such actions could undermine the credibility of the upcoming February elections.
Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiya, NCP spokesperson and head of its election management committee, said officials and intelligence agency heads have been repeatedly visiting a party office, describing it as “a serious warning for Bangladesh’s democracy.”
Speaking after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission in Agargaon, Dhaka, Asif Mahmud said the bias reflects patterns seen during previous Awami League administrations.
“The administration’s focus has historically favored the ruling party, but such audacity even before the party assumes office is alarming,” he said.
He added that officials’ actions are undermining public confidence in the electoral process. “People are already questioning whether the elections will take place, which reduces voter enthusiasm,” he noted.
Highlighting law and order concerns, Asif Mahmud said, “Armed criminals still roam freely in many areas. Our comrade Sharif Osman Hadi was shot the day after the election schedule was announced. Every police station has information about armed terrorists. This intelligence must be used for swift arrests; otherwise, a free and fair election will not be possible.”
On the Election Commission’s credibility, he said, “Our confidence is conditional. Violations such as poster placements and candidate participation in political events make it difficult to fully trust the process. The commission must restore public faith through its actions.”
Asif Mahmud cited examples of alleged bias in candidate eligibility. He said in Comilla-4, NCP candidate Hasnat Abdullah’s nomination was valid despite a rival BNP candidate failed to disclose nearly Tk 100 crore in defaulted loans but was allowed to contest
Besides, in Sylhet-1, an NCP candidate’s nomination was canceled over pending dual-citizenship documents, while a similar BNP candidate in Sylhet-3 was allowed to contest.
“These cases reflect clear favoritism toward a specific party. Hundreds of other irregularities have also been documented,” he said.
Warning of possible public protests, Asif Mahmud said, “We still hope the government and election commission will act fairly. But if another rigged election is attempted, we are prepared to defend citizens’ voting rights, including mobilising on the streets if necessary.”
He stressed that the NCP seeks “a free, fair, and credible election,” adding that 80 to 90 per cent of the responsibility lies with the government and the election commission.
He also raised concerns about candidates previously implicated in violence or suppressing voting rights, urging authorities to bar them from participating.
