National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Wednesday said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has failed to field any “credible challenger” in the national election scheduled for 12 February.
Nahid, who is contesting the Dhaka-11 seat as a candidate of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, made the remarks while speaking to reporters during electioneering in Malibagh.
He alleged that candidates running against the alliance are either loan defaulters, holders of dual citizenship, or linked to land grabbing, terrorism and extortion.
“We are facing candidates who are either loan defaulters or dual citizens; otherwise, they are land grabbers, terrorists or extortionists,” Nahid said, adding that the opposition alliance had failed to nominate any worthy rival.
Referring to what he described as multi-layered conspiracies around the election, he claimed that both domestic and foreign plots were underway, with signs of what he termed major conspiracies originating from a neighbouring country.
Expressing confidence about forming the next government, Nahid said public response in favour of the 11-party alliance had been unprecedented.
“You can see it yourselves. The people are responding overwhelmingly,” he said, adding that the alliance would secure enough seats in parliament to form the government.
Claiming a strong position in his constituency, Nahid said voters in Dhaka-11 were rallying behind the alliance.
“On 12 February, people will deliver their verdict against corruption, extortion and terrorism,” he said, adding that the ‘Shapla Koli’ symbol would emerge victorious in the constituency.
Nahid also alleged that a political party was exerting pressure on the media ahead of the polls.
“The media is giving coverage to a particular party. There are also attempts to ensure that incidents such as the takeover of polling centres on 12 February do not get reported,” he claimed.
