BNP warns of election irregularities, calls for fairness and fact-checking

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has voiced grave concerns over several irregularities including exploitation of religious sentiment, voter manipulation and ballot paper controversy in home and abroad ahead of the country’s 13th national parliamentary election.

Speaking at a press briefing at Gulshan office, the spokesperson of BNP’s central election steering committee Mahdi Amin alleged that a political party has been exploiting religious sentiment by swearing voters on the Qur’an to secure ballots for its symbol.

Such activities are both unethical and violation of electoral conducts, he alleged.

He also accused that the party has been collecting photocopies of National Identity (NID) cards, phone numbers, and mobile financial service details such as bKash accounts from a targeted section of people especially the poor and less-educated ones across the country in the name of election campaigns.

Amin, also an adviser of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, also pointed out to viral videos showing alleged mishandling of postal ballots overseas especially in many middle eastern countries.

Hundreds of ballots in Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, had ended up in the hands of activists from one party, he said.

One seven-minute clip, filmed in Bahrain, depicts more than 200 ballot papers being processed at the residence of a political party leader, he alleged.

Another video from Oman shows a man claimed to be a political party activist named Humayun Kabir working with many ballot papers on top of a car.

“The ballot paper is a sacred trust,” Amin said adding, “No one other than the voter has the right to see it. What we have seen is not only improper, it is illegal.”

Concerns were also raised over the design of postal ballots, with BNP alleging that its symbol, the Dhaner Shish (sheaf of paddy) had been placed at the bottom, making it difficult to identify, while rival symbols were positioned more prominently.

Amin alleged that the layout — five columns and 14 lines — was deliberately structured to disadvantage BNP’s electoral symbol.

“Symbols like the Scale (Daripalla), Water Lily (Shapla), and Hand Fan (Hatpaskha) appear prominently on the first line, while our symbol is buried in the middle of the last line,” he said. “When folded, the paddy sheaf is split across the crease, making it difficult to recognise,” he alleged.

He cited international research suggesting that symbol placement alone can swing between 1 to 10% of votes. BNP has demanded a reprint of the ballot papers before distribution begins.

The BNP leader cited the postponement of the BNP Chairman’s personal tour until 22 January at the Commission’s request, despite it not being an election-related event.

“While other parties openly campaigned with their symbols, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman was requested to cancel personal visits to religious and historical sites,” he alleged.

“This indifference and apathy are creating obstacles to a fair election environment,” he said.

The BNP leader further highlighted the spread of misinformation and deepfake content on social media.

He confirmed that the verified Facebook and Instagram accounts of Barrister Zaima Rahman were her only official platforms, while fake pages in the name of Dr Zubaida Rahman were spreading fabricated AI generated videos.

Dr Zubaida Rahman doesn’t have any social media account or page, the BNP leader confirmed.

The party said more than 50 fake accounts had already been removed, with efforts ongoing to eliminate others.

To strengthen voter engagement, BNP announced the launch of a call center (16543) and introduced the “Match My Policy” initiative, allowing citizens to provide feedback on party policies ahead of the manifesto.

Tarique Rahman is scheduled to formally begin his election campaign with a visit to Sylhet on 22 January, he informed.

In line with its sincerity and seriousness with which BNP advocated reforms at the National Consensus Commission, and as the historic bearer and initiator of reform in Bangladesh, BNP is taking a position in favor of “Yes” in the referendum, said the BNP leader.

Every democracy loving individual, institution, and political party has a vital role to play in ensuring a fair, successful, and acceptable election,” the BNP leader said, urging collective action to build a transparent and accountable state system.

The BNP leader also urged the Election Commission to investigate over the all irregularities and take immediate legal action.

He warned that unless corrective measures were taken swiftly, the credibility of the election could be irreparably damaged.