United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam on Wednesday lodged a series of complaints with the Election Commission, alleging attacks, intimidation of its leaders and activists and vandalism of party offices across the country in an attempt to undermine the election-friendly environment ahead of Thursday’s  elections. “We sadly say that the nice environment we expect for the elections is repeatedly disrupted. Various types of barricades are being created (to intimidate our leaders, activists and supporters),” said Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair. Jamaat activist held with cash in Shariatpur; jailed for 2 years He made this remark after a delegation of Jamaat-led 11-party electoral alliance met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban in the afternoon, just hours before polling begins at 7:30am on Thursday. Zubair warned that if attacks continue on polling day, Jamaat activists would resist what he described as ‘terrorist activities’ with public support. “We will build resistance against terrorists with the people. InshaAllah, there will be resistance in every centre (polling station). There will be mass resistance,” he said replying to a question. Zubair cited several incidents, including an attack on Jamaat leaders in Moulvibazar on Tuesday night, where their local leaders including upazila election management committee chief Abdur Rahman were allegedly assaulted while returning home. He claimed that their vehicles were vandalised and some leaders sustained serious injuries and were shifted to Sylhet for advanced treatment. Jamaat Ameer alleges vandalisation of polling booths in Dhaka-15 Similar incidents were also reported in Moulvibazar Sadar-Rajnagar constituency, Sirajganj, Faridpur, Netrokona, Manikganj, Barishal and Patuakhali, where Jamaat’s prospective polling agents and local leaders were allegedly attacked or threatened, he said. Zubair also alleged that in Sirajganj, the law enforcers made announcements through loudspeakers on Tuesday asking locals to hand over certain Jamaat leaders to them, despite no cases being filed against them and they are dignified persons in the society. He questioned the legality of such actions claiming that the announcement is to create fear among voters. The Jamaat leader questioned who or what is inciting such forces to create a fearful atmosphere among the people by making announcements through loudspeakers in this way, which is a serious obstacle to a fair election. Referring to Dhaka-15 constituency, Zubair claimed that 12 election camps of Jamaat Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman were vandalised and set on fire overnight. “If such incidents can occur in the capital city and on major roads, questions naturally arise about the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies,” he said, urging the EC to immediately investigate and to take action. Zubair also raised concerns over an incident at Saidpur Airport, where a district-level Jamaat leader was allegedly harassed and mentally tortured by police after travelling from Dhaka with Tk 50 lakh. He said the elderly and ailing leader later fell sick and was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Jamaat demanded his immediate release and warned of legal action against those responsible. The Jamaat leader urged the EC to install CCTV cameras inside and outside polling centres to ensure a peaceful, free and credible election.

The 11-party electoral alliance, led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam, on Monday demanded the Election Commission not to slow down mobile internet speed during the referendum and 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12 next. “It is being heard that the mobile internet would be slowed down ... .We told them (EC) that they should not issue another letter or circular citing that the internet would be shut down. Such decisions were in fact fascism acts. We won’t like to see it. They told us clearly that such a decision won’t be taken on their part,” said Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair. He was briefing reporters after a meeting between a delegation of the 11-party electoral alliance and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban. Freedom beckons on Feb 12 as we stand on ruins: Jamaat Ameer in Faridpur The Jamaat leader also said they asked the EC to lift the ban on carrying mobile phones inside the polling stations as well as not to issue any surprise circular that may create concern and doubt among the people. He said the Election Commission issued a sudden directive banning carrying and use of mobile phones by anyone except four personnel within a 400-yard radius of polling stations on polling day “We’ve seen a sudden directive from their part that none can carry or use mobile phones within 400 yards of the polling station, which normally creates worries and concern at all stages. Why is it? We hope that the election will be held in a fair and peaceful manner. But such an announcement pushed everyone into uncertainty,” Zubair said. Referring to repeated assurances by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus that the election would be the most peaceful, credible and festive in the country’s history, he said the directive contradicted those assurances and caused unnecessary public anxiety. He said they immediately met the Election Commission to discuss the issue. “The EC told us that the matter has been discussed and the directive will be withdrawn,” he added. The Jamaat leader further said their alliance expressed concern over the overall law and order situation in several districts, including Khulna, Natore and Shariatpur, alleging that the conduct of certain law enforcement officials including DIG of Khulna and SPs of Shariatpur and Natore was not conducive to holding a free, fair and acceptable election. They urged the EC to issue necessary instructions to those officials and withdraw them if required, warning that otherwise free and fair voting may not be possible in those areas. Zubair said the alliance also raised the issue of deploying Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) members, noting that they have traditionally played a supportive role during elections. Given the importance of this election—with both a referendum and parliamentary polls being held simultaneously—and expected high voter turnout, he stressed the need for deploying maximum supportive forces to ensure a peaceful election. The Election Commission, he said, assured them that necessary steps would be taken. “We hope that no situation should arise that forces us to repeatedly come to the Election Commission. We expect the EC to use its full capacity and take effective measures on the issues we have raised,” Zubair said. Meanwhile, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Monday night told reporters that the Commission lifted a ban on carrying of mobile phones by candidates, polling agents, journalists and observers within a 400-yard radius of polling stations on polling day. Earlier, the Election Commission banned the carrying and use of mobile phones within a 400-yard radius of polling stations by anyone except for four designated personnel. The directive was issued in a letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Md Shahidul Islam, which was sent to the returning officers on Sunday. According to the EC decision, only three categories of personnel will be allowed to carry mobile phones inside polling stations.  They are the presiding officer concerned, the police officer who will be in-charge for security at the station concerned, and two Ansar members (Embodied Ansar/General Ansar/VDP) assigned to use the ‘Election Security 2026’ application. Feb-12 election not for opportunists: Jamaat Ameer

The Election Commission has rolled out a fresh action plan (roadmap) to smoothly hold the upcoming national election and referendum scheduled for February 12 next. The Commission sent the action plan and implementation progress (of the old action plan) to all the divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and all the EC officials and asked them to take necessary measures accordingly. According to the action plan, the collection of information related to withdrawal of candidacies on January 20, while formation of the vigilance and observation teams, election monitoring teams and the law and order maintenance cell on January 20, sending the lists of polling stations to BG press to publish the lists on January 22 and giving the order to the BG press to print the ballot papers on January 25. Read More: Fresh election schedule declared for Pabna-1, Pabna-2 The presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, polling officers and the master trainers of polling agents will be trained on January 21 and 22. On the voting day (Feb 12), the EC will collect reporters on the balloting situation and primary results and publish the primary result of elections on the website as per the action plan. Two days after the balloting, the Commission will send the names and addresses of elected persons to BG Press for publishing theses in gazettes. The gazettes will be collected from the BG press and the final election results will be published on the website three days after the voting day. Read More: EC so far clears path for 275 to contest Feb-12 election On August 28 last year, the Election Commission unveiled the electoral action plan setting timelines to complete all necessary measures to arrange the 13th parliamentary election before Ramadan in February 2026. In the action plan, timeframes were set for different election preparatory works like preparation of the electoral rolls, registration of new political parties, delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, updating the guidelines for observers and journalists, printing of election manual, directives, poster and identity cards, carrying out training activities, making translucent ballot boxes and election materials ready, preparation of election budget, installation of polling stations, law and order related issues, and announcement of election results.