NCP urges EC to announce election schedule considering political situation

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam today said the Election Commission (EC) should announce the election schedule taking into account the prevailing political situation, as the commission has not yet clearly stated when the schedule will be declared and has only hinted that it may come within one to two weeks.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at the Election Commission office in Agargaon this afternoon, Nahid reiterated that the EC must proceed carefully given the country's volatile political environment.

Expressing concern over the EC's institutional capacity, Nahid said several officials accused of corruption in previous years still remain within the commission. He said the NCP has repeatedly provided the EC with information in this regard and urged the commission to remain vigilant and take appropriate action.

"We do not want the electoral process to be disrupted in any way. Holding a free and fair election on time is the most crucial priority, and the NCP will extend full cooperation," he said. "But if the commission behaves in a biased manner, we will be compelled to express complete no-confidence and take a tough stance."

NCP Chief also said allegations centering the appointment of deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) have not been clarified, the process remains opaque, and there are fears of political influence. 

For this reason, he urged the EC to stay alert and ensure neutral officials are placed in key positions ahead of the polls.

NCP Convener said the party welcomed the proposed reforms related to political symbols and the practice of multiparty democracy. He reiterated that every political party must be allowed to contest elections with its own symbol, ideology, and identity. Even in alliances, partners should retain their separate symbols, he added.

"But attempts are being made by one party to pressure the government, the EC and various institutions to scrap this reform so that alliance partners can contest under a single electoral symbol," he said, adding that when such demands were not met politically, attempts were made to challenge the reform through a writ petition in court.

Nahid said the NCP urged the CEC to take a firm stance in favour of the reform and fight any legal challenges. He said the party would also support the reform through legal means.

He also said the EC must verify all information submitted in candidate affidavits and take action if any inaccuracies are found. Laws enforced by the Election Commission must apply equally to all parties, he added.

Referring to the excessive use of money in elections, Nahid said Bangladesh's electoral culture is plagued by black money and campaign spending often far exceeds the legal limit. He urged the EC to adopt a strict position against such violations.

Nahid said the NCP expects a free and neutral election, but concerns remain regarding the level playing field, especially in light of politically influenced transfers of DCs and SPs, which he warned could affect the election environment.

On the issue of the upcoming referendum, he said the four-part question format and the amount of time required for each vote are matters the EC is still reviewing. Without proper public awareness campaigns, misinformation and disinformation may increase, he warned, especially against women candidates who often face cyber bullying. 

Responding to a question on whether the EC is preparing to declare the schedule next week and if the NCP believes the environment is stable enough, Nasiruddin Patwary said ballot management for expatriate voters is time-consuming, which is why the commission wants to move quickly. 

"But we have told them to consider the political crisis as well. All political parties are agreed on this (Holding the election on planed time). There is no dispute. We firmly believe the country is heading toward a fair election in February," he said.

Asked whether BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's critical illness might affect the election schedule, Patwary said, "No, it will not affect the 
schedule. She fought for democracy for a long time. The government is showing respect, and so are we. Everyone has emotional attachment with her; this goes  beyond BNP politics."