Nasiruddin Patwary, the nominated candidate of the 11-party alliance National Citizens Party (NCP), has formally submitted application to the Election Commission (EC) to conduct a recount of the Dhaka-8 constituency results, citing allegations of vote rigging and various irregularities in the recently concluded 13th National Parliamentary Elections.
Patwary submitted his application to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Saturday.
In his complaint, Patwary stated that he contested the February 12 election under the Shapla Kali symbol. He alleged that Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate representing the Sheaf of Paddy symbol, along with his supporters, agents, and family members, were involved in widespread electoral malpractice in the constituency.
According to Patwary, there were multiple instances of undue influence, withholding of results, inclusion of invalid votes, and irregularities at several polling centers during both voting and counting.
He also claimed that the presiding officers and returning officers at the affected centers were complicit and that the official results declaring the BNP candidate victorious did not reflect the actual vote counts.
Patwary argued that the declaration of results violated provisions of the 1972 Representation of the People Order, the 2008 Election Conduct Regulations, and other applicable election laws.
He called for a full investigation and urged the EC to take disciplinary and legal action against the responsible officials and individuals involved. Patwari specifically named Mirza Abbas, his wife Afroza Abbas, and others, requesting that the authorities act against them in accordance with the law.
“Given the irregularities, alleged rigging, and undue influence affecting the outcome in Dhaka-8, the Election Commission must investigate thoroughly and take all necessary actions against the responsible parties,” Patwary said in his complaint.
