Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Chair of the Election Management Committee of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has said that concerns will arise over the credibility of the election if the Election Commission (EC) acts in a partisan manner. He warned that if irregularities continue, the party and its alliance will decide on further action.
He said that after the return of a party chairman to the country, posters bearing his photograph have flooded public spaces, which, according to him, warrants a show-cause notice. “Yet we are being issued show-cause notices for campaigning in favour of a ‘Yes’ vote,” he added.
Asif Mahmud demanded that the show-cause notices issued to the NCP be withdrawn and that the Election Commission provide an explanation to the public.
He made these remarks on Monday evening while briefing journalists after a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at Jamuna.
He further alleged that, as in controversial elections of the past, individuals with dual citizenship and loan defaulters are being allowed to contest the election. He also accused field-level officials of engaging in questionable activities.
“We currently have information on around 31 loan defaulters, and the number of individuals with dual citizenship is almost the same. We will raise these issues with the Commission again,” he said.
Asif Mahmud also stated that two NCP members had been served show-cause notices for campaigning related to the referendum. “How does campaigning for a referendum amount to a violation of the code of conduct?” he questioned. He alleged that other parties are openly campaigning with party symbols and banners, yet no action is being taken against them. “These show-cause notices are being issued with ulterior motives,” he claimed, adding that the NCP supports the ‘Yes’ vote in favour of reform.
Others present at the meeting with the Chief Adviser included NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Election Management Committee Chair and party spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Secretary Monira Sharmin, and Advocate Jahirul Islam Musa, head of the Election Management Committee’s legal support subcommittee.