‘Jamaat shadow over EC’s polls plan’

The BNP has alleged that a section of officials in the administration and the Election Commission are linked to the Jamaat-e-Islami.

It fears that these officials may attempt to influence the upcoming national election in favour of the Jamaat.

Expressing doubt over the neutrality of the current government and parts of the EC, the BNP has decided to separately meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin to raise its concerns and seek "urgent corrective measures" ahead of the polls.

"A BNP delegation will meet Chief Adviser Yunus and the CEC soon to discuss these issues," said a BNP Standing Committee member, seeking anonymity.

The party discussed these issues at a Standing Committee meeting on Monday night at the chairperson's Gulshan office, several members of the committee told The Daily Star, requesting anonymity. Acting chairman Tarique Rahman joined the meeting virtually from London.

"If Jamaat-linked officials remain on election duty, they may try to rig votes or influence the process," said a Standing Committee member.

The meeting decided that Standing Committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan will meet the EC soon.

BNP leaders said the team will formally seek appointments and submit specific complaints about partisan officials.

The leaders said during past elections, the Awami League did not rig votes through politicians but "used government officials on election duty". The party fears a repeat of such tactics.

One Standing Committee member who was present at the meeting said, "Already, a large number of officials, including DCs, SPs and UNOs, have Jamaat connections.

"I've heard that around 4,000 officials from Islami Bank will work as presiding officers. These are the concerns."

The EC plans to finalise the panel of polling officials by October 30.

A circular issued on September 2 instructed district election officers to prepare lists of presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers with recruits from government offices, private institutions, schools, colleges, banks and insurance firms.

At the Standing Committee meeting, BNP leaders said many of those being shortlisted were once affiliated with Shibir or currently maintain ties with Jamaat.

They said that from their own survey and local information, they found a large number of individuals with Jamaat ties holding various positions in government offices, schools, and colleges.

They alleged that chairmen of governing bodies of schools and colleges were also being removed and replaced with partisan persons.

They said that recent remarks and actions by some advisers are hurting the interim government's neutrality.

The BNP leaders said a few advisers have shown bias in recent administrative changes and appointments, favouring a "particular political group".

They alleged that while lists of polling officials were being prepared, people linked to "one party" were being prioritised.

JULY CHARTER

The BNP reaffirmed that it is ready to sign the July Charter.

A delegation of over 100 leaders will attend the October 17 signing ceremony, where Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed will sign on behalf of the party.

The BNP also reiterated that if a referendum is held, it must take place on the same day as the national election, and that the party will not accept holding the polls under the proportional representation (PR) system.

Although the National Consensus Commission said it would send a final version of the charter to parties yesterday, BNP leaders said they did not receive any copy until 8:00pm.

The meeting also reviewed organisational readiness for the polls. Leaders admitted weaknesses in field-level campaigning and discussed plans to strengthen the party's media and communication cells.

They also expressed concern over growing online smear campaigns and misinformation targeting the BNP and discussed strategies for countering them, especially through stronger social media outreach.