National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (South Region) and Comilla-4 candidate Hasnat Abdullah on Monday alleged that the BNP started a “practice match” of capturing polling booths by carrying out attacks on NCP election campaigns and its candidate in Dhaka-18.

“Today, the kind of attack that took place on our candidate, our brother Adeeb (Ariful Islam Adeeb), and the way our campaign activities have been attacked under the banner of BNP’s party identity, sends a negative message about the entire electoral process,” he said.

Hasnat Abdullah made the remarks after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

He said such attacks convey messages of repression and the messages of occupying polling stations. “We think a “practice match” has started (to capture polling stations) from today,” he said.

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The NCP leader said this aggressive behaviour and the tendency to obstruct and attack rivals’ election campaigns raise serious concerns about how a participatory election can be held finally.

“We think this will be a major challenge for the Election Commission to arrange a participatory election,” he added.

Another NCP Ayman Rahat said they have lodged a complaint with the CEC, alleging that BNP activists attacked the NCP candidate’s campaign in the Dhaka-18 constituency.

The NCP also alleged widespread violations of the electoral code of conduct, saying that despite a ban on posters, posters have been displayed in various areas of Dhaka-17, and rallies are being held until 3–4am. “However, no action is being taken in these cases,” he said.

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Besides, the NCP leader complained with the EC that many people who played controversial roles in previous elections are being appointed as presiding officers for the upcoming polls.