Sylhet BNP has alleged that a political party in Sylhet is preparing to capture polling centres with the aim of influencing the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election using “armed drills”.
These allegations were raised at an emergency press conference organised by the Sylhet district and metropolitan BNP on Saturday afternoon, held at the main election office of the BNP-nominated candidate for Sylhet-1 constituency.
The party claims that illegal influence is being exerted in several polling centres in the city and sadar upazila, and there is a plan to control the situation through armed drills.
At the press conference, acting president of Sylhet Metropolitan BNP, Rezaul Hasan Koyes Ludhi said that, in various constituencies of Sylhet, targeted propaganda is being carried out against BNP candidates, alleging that children and adolescents are being used in election campaigns, and votes are being sought by exploiting religious sentiments at public rallies, which directly violates the electoral code of conduct.
He further said that the BNP has learned that a particular political party is preparing to capture multiple polling centres in the city and sadar upazila to ensure results in their favour, claiming that a list of polling centres at high risk of such influence has been handed over to the administration.
Further allegations were made at the press conference that opposing party candidates are attempting to buy votes with money. BNP leaders stated that evidence related to this has been submitted to the district returning officer.
Present at the press conference were Sylhet District BNP President Abdul Qaiyum Chowdhury, BNP Central Microcredit and Cottage Industry Affairs Co-Secretary Abdur Razzak, Sylhet Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Emdad Hossain Chowdhury, former general secretary of Metropolitan BNP Badruzzaman Selim, District BNP Joint Secretary Siddiqur Rahman Paplu, Sylhet District Volunteer Party President Abdul Ahad Khan Jamal, along with other district leaders and activists.
