Ehtesham Haque, the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) nominee for the Sylhet-1 constituency, on Tuesday accused the Sylhet district returning officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam of discrimination and biased conduct.
He made the allegation at a press conference held at the Sylhet District Press Club at around 2:00 pm.
Ehtesham Haque, also the NCP’s central organising secretary for the Sylhet division, said he was treated unfairly at the returning officer’s office compared to candidates from other political parties during the nomination scrutiny process.
He alleged that his nomination paper was declared invalid on certain grounds, while a BNP candidate in the Sylhet-3 constituency was declared valid despite having the same shortcomings.
The NCP leader said that as a conscious citizen and political activist, he had expected a fair and just decision from the returning officer, but the decision taken in his case has raised questions about the neutrality of the Election Commission and administrative transparency.
He further said similar allegations have emerged from different parts of the country, but no effective action has been seen from the Election Commission, which he claimed is eroding public trust in the electoral system and state institutions.
Ehtesham warned that if elections are conducted by favouring a particular political party or group, it would be impossible to establish genuine democracy and fair elections in the country.
Five NCP leaders resign in Feni
Calling for the attention of the Election Commission and the concerned authorities, he said they would continue their movement on the streets as well as through all constitutional means to ensure justice and equal rights.
The press conference was attended by NCP Sylhet metropolitan convener Advocate Md Abdur Rahman Afzal, Sylhet district convener Md Juned Ahmed, metropolitan member secretary Golam Kibria, district member secretary Engineer Kamrul Arif, metropolitan joint convener Nizam Uddin, joint member secretary Tasnia Akhter Lubna, among others.