Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that its candidates are being harassed in some areas by magistrates and election officials.
The party claimed that such actions are being taken on the officials’ own initiative, even where no formal complaints have been lodged, raising concerns about the neutrality of the administration ahead of the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12.
“In several areas, candidates of certain parties are continuing their campaign freely. Again, (false) complaints are being filed against us. Even though complaints are not filed in some places, magistrates and election officials are harassing us on their own initiative,” said Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
A Jamaat delegation, led by Hamidur Rahman Azad, met the CEC at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital in the afternoon.
Azad said the election campaign is supposed to start from January 22 as the election schedule. “So, that campaign should not be carried out now. If the impartiality of the administration cannot be ensured, there will be no level playing field (in the election,” he said.
The Jamaat leader claimed that the candidates of certain parties are not facing any action for violating the electoral code of conduct, but Jamaat candidates are being subjected to complaints, fines and notices in many places.
There are piles of complaints (lodged by us), but no action has been taken, and this indicates that electoral equality is not being maintained, he alleged.
“On the one hand, they are violating the code of conduct. But there is no action against them. And those who are not violating the code of conduct, they are being served with fines and notices to harass them on the other hand. We have told the commission - this must be stopped,” said Azad, also a Jamaat candidate for Cox’s Bazar-2.
He said they all want the election and referendum to be held on February 12, 2026 in line with the announced schedule.
He said Jamaat wants the election and referendum to be held on February 12, 2026, in line with the announced schedule, adding that the party expects a fair election free from past irregularities.
Noting that two major political parties or alliances are contesting in the election, he said chiefs of the parties should get equal treatment in case of getting state protocol and security.
“The State protocol and security arrangements must be ensured on an equitable basis. “If security or state protocol is provided, it must be ensured equally for all party chiefs and those who have sought protection. Selective arrangements will not ensure a level playing field,” he said.
The Jamaat leader asked all stakeholders, including the government and the Election Commission to take steps for ensuring a congenial atmosphere to hold a fair election. “If you take initiative, take effective steps, as a political party and as a supporting force. We are by your side.”
He said if the government and the EC go all out unilaterally due to the failure of the law, Jamaat will be forced to carry out its responsibility. “The question may arise about how much we can support you in this election.”
The Jamaat leader also demanded that every polling station be brought under CCTV surveillance to ensure security and a fair voting environment. He said the government should allocate funds to ensure that all polling centres are covered by CCTV cameras at state expense.
Responding to allegations that a Jamaat leader was involved in postal ballot irregularities in Bahrain, Azad said the claim is completely false, noting that Jamaat has no overseas organisational activities in that country where political activities are not permitted.
He also alleged that candidates of a particular party are violating the electoral code of conduct by distributing family cards.
Regarding BNP’s demand for constituency-based postal ballots with candidates’ names and symbols for in-country postal voting, Azad said there is no problem with using such ballots.
About BNP’s allegation that its party symbol was intentionally made less visible on postal ballots sent to expatriates, he said the symbols might have been arranged according to alphabetical order. “If the Election Commission has followed a specific method to determine the serial, there is no reason to raise objections,” he added.