BNP unveils plan to monitor polling centres

The BNP has issued detailed instructions to its grassroots leaders and activists to boost turnout and prevent irregularities and voter intimidation at polling centres across the country on election day.

Following a meeting attended by senior leaders in the capital yesterday, the party directed its grassroots leadership to deploy between 100 and 500 party members outside each polling centre, depending on voter numbers.

According to party insiders, the BNP will appoint a team leader, centre leader, and venue leader for each polling station to supervise overall operations and ensure compliance with the instructions.

On polling day, leaders and activists from Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, Krishak Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and other affiliated bodies will work in three shifts at their assigned centres. Party workers have been instructed to maintain a peaceful presence so that voters do not feel intimidated.

Polling agents have been instructed to check voter lists, inspect ballot boxes, ensure they are properly sealed, record their lock numbers, and file complaints over any irregularities.

They have also been told to send hourly vote counts to a central monitoring cell and not to sign result documents if the BNP’s internal count does not match the centre’s result.

Each polling agent must carry 40 to 50 complaint forms, while Tk 100–150 will be provided per centre.

“If someone is unable to vote or if it is found that another person has voted in place of a voter, a complaint must be filed, and the BNP will support voters in submitting complaints,” said a source who attended the meeting.

The party has instructed polling agents to vote first to assess whether the voting process is transparent and to ensure the indelible ink is functioning properly.

The chief polling agent will calculate the number of votes cast every hour and send the figures to the central monitoring cell.

During voting, the BNP’s internal count must be matched with the centre’s result, and it must also be verified whether the hourly vote figures align with those recorded by the assistant presiding officer. Party leaders said polling centre results must also match those announced by the returning officer.

To ensure voter turnout, the BNP has planned transport support, including rickshaws and vans, to bring voters from distant and nearby areas. One party leader will be assigned as a local coordinator in each area to oversee the transport arrangements.

Leaders and activists have been instructed to stand in voter lines early after Fajr prayers, coordinate with law enforcers, and raise objections and alert election officials if voting proceeds unusually slowly.

“Jamaat will try to go early and stand in the voter line first. They may try to slow down the voting. Leaders and activists must stay alert so that this cannot happen and must protest if needed,” said a BNP leader assigned to polling duties.

The BNP warned that local leaders would face expulsion and organisational punitive action if voter turnout is low in party stronghold centres.

The party has also instructed that if anyone arrives to vote wearing a burqa or niqab, their identity must be carefully verified and their face seen to confirm eligibility.

Leaders and activists have also been instructed to remain vigilant to prevent fake ballots from being inserted into ballot boxes and to inform on-duty election officials immediately if any irregularities are detected.

Meanwhile, the BNP has set up a call centre at the party’s Election Steering Office in Gulshan to receive complaints and information throughout polling day.