With less than a week to go until Bangladesh goes to the polls, a huge number of complaints, mostly filed by opposition candidates, has been piling up at the Election Commission (EC).
A large number of them, however, remain unaddressed.
Over 400 complaints have so far been filed with the commission, with an average of 30 complaints submitted every day, officials said.
Most of the complaints are about alleged attacks, filing of false cases, and violation of the electoral code of conduct, they added.
In addition to the complaints directly with the commission, complaints are also being filed with the returning officers in each district.
The complaints also include accusations against returning officers, assistant returning officers, police supers, and police station officers-in-charge (OCs) of the respective constituencies.
However, with the general election slated to be held on December 30, less than a week away, no significant or exemplary measure has been taken by the commission yet.
BNP’s complaints
Habibul Islam Habib, Jatiya Oikya Front candidate for Satkhira 1 constituency, submitted a complaint to the Election Commission against an OC on December 21.
He complained that Kolarowa police station OC Sheikh Maruf Ahmed had publicly sought votes for the Awami League, and therefore, he demanded the OC’s withdrawal.
Another complaint is against a candidate of Worker’s Party, MustofaLutfulla, for the Satkhira 1 constituency. He has been accused of using photos of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, instead of party chief Rashed Khan Menon, in his election poster.
The complaint letter was submitted to the commission on Thursday.
The letter reads: “Using photos of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina in the election poster is a clear violation of 7/2 sub section of the electoral code of conduct. He is misleading the people by using Sheikh Hasina’s reputation.”
On December 15, a complaint was submitted to the commission on behalf of BNP leader Mahbub Uddin Khokon demanding the removal of Noakhali’s Sonaimuri police station OC Abdul Majid.
The complaint accusing the OC of attempted murder was submitted to the chief election commission (CEC) by Khokon’s son,Saqeb Mahbub.
Oikya Front candidate for the Noakhali 1 constituency,BNP Joint Secretary General Mahbub Uddin Khokon was earlier shot with rubber bullets while campaigning at Sonaimuri Bazar after a clash broke out between his supporters and local Awami League activists.
In the complaint, Saqeb Mahbub also urged the commission to take legal action against the perpetrators of the attack after a neutral investigation within 12 hours.
Jafar Iqbal Siddiqui, former lawmaker from Nilphamari 1 constituency, BNP candidate in Noakhali Mohammad Fazlul Azim, BNP candidate in Cox’s Bazar Sarwar Kamal, candidate for Dhaka 10 Abdul Mannan, Gazipur 4 candidate Shah Riazul Hannan, Dhaka 9 candidate Afroza Abbas, Dhaka 19 candidate Dewan Mohammad Salauddin, and former lawmaker of Satkhira 1 Habibul Islam Habib, have also submitted complaints to the commission.
Their complaints are regarding attacks on candidates and activists, tearing up election posters, and obstacles to election campaigning.
Awami League’s complaints
According to Election Commission officials, a few ruling Awami League candidates have also filed complaints against opposition party (BNP and Jatiya Oikya Front) contestants.
The Awami League submitted a letter of complaint to the commission on December 21.
The ruling party alleged that BNP is attacking its candidates and supporters. It also accused BNP of violating the electoral code of conduct by using photos of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman in election posters.
“We have informed the commission in this regard, so that proper action can be taken.” said HT Imam, an advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Meanwhile, on behalf of Dhaka 9 constituency Awami League candidate Saber Hossain Chowdhury, party activist Abdul Mannan complained to the CEC against BNP candidate Afroza Abbas for violating the electoral code of conduct during campaigning.
Accusations against police
Awami League lawmaker fromChapainawabganj 3 Abdul Wadud submitted a complaint of bias against Chapainawabganj District Superintendent of Police TM Mozahidul Islam and Additional Superintendent of Police Mahbub Alam Khan.
He requested that the police officers be transferred.
The same allegation was made against both the police officials by Chapainawabganj District Farmer League Vice-President Md Khurshid Alam Bachchu.
A complaint was also submitted against Baghapara OC Jashim Uddin and calls were made for his transfer.
After announcement of the election schedule, many leaders of the constituency were reportedly arrested in “ghost” cases and sent to jail.
Former Awami League lawmaker of Shirajganj’s Ullapara Shafiqul Islam filled a complaint against the local OC and demanded his withdrawal.
A lot of accusations have been filed against OCs and other police officers, but only around eight officials have been withdrawn. Among them,Narayanganj police commissioner and three OCs have been transferred because of complaints.
Following numerous complaints, the commission on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to withdraw Gaibandha deputy commissioner, Faridpur additional deputy commissioner,and OCs of Ramna in Dhaka, Sonaimuri in Noakhali, Bijaynagar in Brahmanbaria, and Sadar police station in Thakurgaon.
The commission also saw to the withdrawal of Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Humayun Kabir, the Narayanganj superintendent of police, and two other OCs after the announcement of the polls schedule.
No exemplary action taken yet
The Election Commission is reportedly playing a silent role in dealing with complaints filed to ensure fair polling in the upcoming 11th general election.
While talking to Dhaka Tribune, commission officials said they were not considering all the applications as important,but were working on shortlisted ones to dispose off.
Meanwhile, more than 50 complaints related to violation of the electoral code of conduct have been sent to the relevant electoral inquiry committee.
The inquiry committee sent back a report on 34 cases to the commission, but did not reveal any specific criminal information, and nor did it recommend punishment for the alleged crimes, though the committee has the jurisdiction to do both.
Some violent incidents have also been identified, but those are being treated as criminal offenses.
Allegations against the local administration and police officers have been considered, but action has been taken only against 14.
The commission did not take any action directly against the allegations of several parties and candidates, including BNP. They just sent letters to returning officers and police supers to take legal and necessary action.
An election commission official, who is dealing with the complaints filed, told Dhaka Tribune that the commission has ordered taking of legal action based on some complaints.
“We have sent letters to the returning officers regarding the issue,” he said.
However, even then, some OCs in some constituencies of Dhaka, Noakhali, Jessore, Brahmanbaria and Chapainawabganj districts were not withdrawn after they sought votes on behalf of certain candidates openly.
What the election commission says
Speaking to the media, Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said there was no statistics regarding how many complaints had been filed, but actions were being taken on some of them.
“We have sent some complaints to the deputy inspector general of police (DIG), returning officers, police supers, and the electoral inquiry committee,” he said.
About the delay in dealing with the complaints, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda told reporters on December 15 that they will follow the legal framework to dispose off the complaints.
At a press conference at the commission media centre, he said the commission was forwarding the complaints to the electoral inquiry committee gradually and it had nothing to do with the delay.