The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has voiced profound disappointment regarding a series of alleged violent incidents, illegal financial inducements, and attempts at “booth capturing” reportedly orchestrated by Jamaat-e-Islami. As the nation stands on the precipice of a historic electoral transition, the BNP leadership has characterised these actions as a desperate response by an ally fearful of electoral rejection.
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A Litigation of Grievances
During a high-level press briefing held on Wednesday night, 11 February, at the party’s election management office in Gulshan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Chairman of the BNP’s Election Management Committee, presented a comprehensive report detailing alleged malpractice across the country. Mr Khan argued that after years of collective struggle to restore the franchise to the people, the current climate of anarchy threatens to derail the democratic process.
Mr Khan highlighted several specific instances where legal interventions took place, involving the recovery of significant sums of “black money” intended to sway voters. He noted that the disparity between the declared incomes of some detainees and the cash found in their possession points toward a coordinated effort at “election engineering.”
Key Reported Incidents of Electoral Interference
| Location | Incident Detail | Action Taken / Outcome |
| Saidpur Airport | 7.4m BDT seized from Thakurgaon Jamaat Amir. | Detained by security forces. |
| Shariatpur | Recovery of 750,000 BDT from activists. | Two-year prison sentence handed down. |
| Jhenaidah-4 | 23 blank result sheets signed by ‘Scales’ agents. | Documents seized by administration. |
| Rajshahi | Brutal physical assault on a Krishak Dal leader. | Victim hospitalised at RMCH. |
| Netrokona | Union Jamaat Amir detained with cash. | Formal police custody. |
| Pallabi, Dhaka | Misconduct by two polling agents. | Officials expelled and agents jailed. |
Allegations of Intimidation and Violence
The BNP’s grievances extended beyond financial bribery to serious allegations of physical intimidation and criminal conduct. Mr Khan cited reports of arson attacks on minority homes, attempted sexual assault of a housewife, and the discovery of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and GI pipes at locations linked to Jamaat figures.
“It is heartbreaking that while we seek to establish a democratic government supported by the people, some are choosing the path of chaos,” Mr Khan stated. He specifically mentioned an attack in Rajshahi where the tendons of a Krishak Dal leader were severed, an act he described as a barbaric attempt to intimidate political opponents.
Call for Vigilant Polling Station Oversight
In light of these reports, the BNP has issued a directive to its grassroots activists and the general public to maintain a 24-hour vigil at polling centres.
“We request the people of this country: do not let the achievements of our long struggle be obstructed. Guard the centres in shifts. Cast your votes, and do not leave until the final results are officially signed and handed over.”
Mahdi Amin, the spokesperson for the Election Management Committee and Advisor to the BNP Chairman, added that the “overwhelming popularity” of Tarique Rahman makes a BNP victory inevitable—a fact he believes is driving rival factions toward sabotage. Despite the reported unrest in over a hundred centres, he remained optimistic that the spontaneous resistance from the public would preserve the integrity of the vote.
The BNP reiterated its commitment to the “July Charter” and its manifesto, promising that if they are entrusted with the responsibility of state, they will focus on the welfare of the “Motherland” and the restoration of fundamental rights.