The 11-party electoral alliance, led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam, on Monday demanded the Election Commission not to slow down mobile internet speed during the referendum and 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12 next.
“It is being heard that the mobile internet would be slowed down ... .We told them (EC) that they should not issue another letter or circular citing that the internet would be shut down. Such decisions were in fact fascism acts. We won’t like to see it. They told us clearly that such a decision won’t be taken on their part,” said Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair.
He was briefing reporters after a meeting between a delegation of the 11-party electoral alliance and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban.
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The Jamaat leader also said they asked the EC to lift the ban on carrying mobile phones inside the polling stations as well as not to issue any surprise circular that may create concern and doubt among the people.
He said the Election Commission issued a sudden directive banning carrying and use of mobile phones by anyone except four personnel within a 400-yard radius of polling stations on polling day
“We’ve seen a sudden directive from their part that none can carry or use mobile phones within 400 yards of the polling station, which normally creates worries and concern at all stages. Why is it? We hope that the election will be held in a fair and peaceful manner. But such an announcement pushed everyone into uncertainty,” Zubair said.
Referring to repeated assurances by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus that the election would be the most peaceful, credible and festive in the country’s history, he said the directive contradicted those assurances and caused unnecessary public anxiety.
He said they immediately met the Election Commission to discuss the issue. “The EC told us that the matter has been discussed and the directive will be withdrawn,” he added.
The Jamaat leader further said their alliance expressed concern over the overall law and order situation in several districts, including Khulna, Natore and Shariatpur, alleging that the conduct of certain law enforcement officials including DIG of Khulna and SPs of Shariatpur and Natore was not conducive to holding a free, fair and acceptable election.
They urged the EC to issue necessary instructions to those officials and withdraw them if required, warning that otherwise free and fair voting may not be possible in those areas.
Zubair said the alliance also raised the issue of deploying Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) members, noting that they have traditionally played a supportive role during elections. Given the importance of this election—with both a referendum and parliamentary polls being held simultaneously—and expected high voter turnout, he stressed the need for deploying maximum supportive forces to ensure a peaceful election.
The Election Commission, he said, assured them that necessary steps would be taken.
“We hope that no situation should arise that forces us to repeatedly come to the Election Commission. We expect the EC to use its full capacity and take effective measures on the issues we have raised,” Zubair said.
Meanwhile, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Monday night told reporters that the Commission lifted a ban on carrying of mobile phones by candidates, polling agents, journalists and observers within a 400-yard radius of polling stations on polling day.
Earlier, the Election Commission banned the carrying and use of mobile phones within a 400-yard radius of polling stations by anyone except for four designated personnel.
The directive was issued in a letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Md Shahidul Islam, which was sent to the returning officers on Sunday.
According to the EC decision, only three categories of personnel will be allowed to carry mobile phones inside polling stations. They are the presiding officer concerned, the police officer who will be in-charge for security at the station concerned, and two Ansar members (Embodied Ansar/General Ansar/VDP) assigned to use the ‘Election Security 2026’ application.