Claiming that BNP has long been at the forefront of the country’s reform agenda, senior party leader Mahdi Amin on Tuesday alleged that a group of so-called “new reformists” is spreading misinformation against the party.
The BNP Central Election Management Committee spokesperson and adviser to the party chairperson made the remarks at a press conference at the committee’s office in Gulshan.
Mahdi Amin said BNP consistently advocated reforms even during years of repression under what he termed authoritarian rule. “Those who never raised the issue of reform are now speaking loudly about it and creating confusion about BNP, which has been the pioneer, custodian and carrier of the reform agenda,” he said.
He added that BNP believes a democratic, accountable and modern state can only be built through public empowerment and the restoration of voting rights.
Referring to BNP’s reform initiatives, Mahdi Amin said the party presented Vision 2030 in 2016, followed by a 27-point reform proposal in 2022 and a more detailed 31-point outline in 2023.
He said BNP was the first to propose a bicameral parliament and limits on the prime minister’s tenure to prevent concentration of power. He also cited a 2014 proposal by BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman for a 5% quota to promote merit-based recruitment.
Mahdi Amin said BNP has taken a firm position in favour of a “Yes” vote in the upcoming referendum on state reforms to be held alongside the national election.
Tarique Rahman’s campaign schedule
He announced that BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman will visit Barishal and Faridpur on Wednesday as part of his election campaign. According to the schedule, Tarique Rahman will leave Dhaka by air at 11am, address a rally at Bells Park in Barishal at noon, and later attend another rally at Rajendra College ground in Faridpur at 1:45pm before returning to Dhaka.
Allegations of disinformation
Mahdi Amin alleged that at least 29 false and misleading claims targeting Tarique Rahman have circulated over the past week. He said several fact-checking platforms have identified these narratives as false.
He claimed activists of a particular political party are reviving fabricated narratives from the authoritarian period in an attempt to mislead voters, adding that such efforts reflect political isolation amid rising public support for BNP.
Concerns over election arrangements
The BNP spokesperson also raised objections to the deployment of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) cadets for election-related duties during the 13th parliamentary election and referendum.
He said many BNCC cadets are students who may have political affiliations, which could undermine the neutrality of the election. BNP has formally requested the Election Commission not to assign BNCC cadets election duties.
Mahdi Amin further expressed concern over the Election Commission’s approval of 55,454 local election observers from 81 organisations, noting that more than 34,000 observers come from just 16 organisations.
He alleged that leadership positions in several of these organisations are held by members of a particular political party and urged the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field during the polls.
