BNP Concerned Over Mobile Phone Ban Near Polling Centers
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed concern over the decision to ban the use of mobile phones within a 400-yard radius of polling centres, warning that the move could undermine the festive atmosphere of the election and discourage voter turnout.
The concern was voiced at a press conference held on Monday evening, February 9, at the BNP’s election coordination office in Gulshan. Speaking at the briefing, Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of the party’s election management committee and adviser to BNP chairperson, urged the Election Commission to withdraw the decision immediately.
Mahdi Amin said reports from local and international media, opinion surveys and on-the-ground realities indicate that the BNP is currently at the peak of its popularity. He claimed that a free, fair and credible election would ensure an overwhelming victory for the party’s symbol, the sheaf of paddy.
Highlighting the BNP’s historical role, he said the party had led key political milestones, including the Liberation War, movements against authoritarian rule and popular uprisings. He also referred to BNP governments’ contributions to women’s empowerment, education and employment, while criticising rival parties for making what he described as offensive remarks about women.
On the issue of voter identification, Mahdi Amin said that in cases of suspicion, voters’ identities should be verified in line with the voter list, in the presence of female presiding or assistant presiding officers and female polling agents. He noted that, as with photographs for national ID cards, passports, Hajj, Umrah or visas, voters should briefly uncover their faces solely for identification purposes.
He further alleged that an actor had been misled into appearing in an election advertisement for Jamaat-e-Islami’s “Scales” symbol under the pretext of promoting a social grievance-receiving app, calling the incident deceptive and politically embarrassing.
Mahdi Amin also raised concerns over the accreditation of inexperienced and politically affiliated organisations as election observers, as well as the security of minority voters. He urged all stakeholders to refrain from spreading misinformation and emphasised that broad public participation is essential to ensuring a credible and acceptable election.
DBTech/BLN/EK
