‘Let’s play the full 90 minutes’: NCP’s Patwary to BNP

NCP’s Nasiruddin Patwary has told the BNP to “play the full 90 minutes” after his polling agent was delayed and barred from working for three hours at the Mirza Abbas Mohila College centre.

He alleged that party-backed musclemen interfered, preventing proper monitoring, and described the obstruction as “a blow to democracy”.

Patwary warned of widespread irregularities but said voters’ support would honour the legacy of martyrs such as Sharif Osman bin Hadi.

“I have visited many centres since morning. Voting is taking place fairly in many places. But at Mirza Abbas Mohila College centre, our agent was allowed in an hour late and then was not allowed to work for three hours. We want to know what happened inside the centre during that time,” he said.

“CCTV footage should be reviewed to see what happened while our agent was kept outside. He told me he was not checked by the administration but by party goons and musclemen linked to Mirza Abbas. If this kind of obstruction happens at a centre named after him, then this is not democracy in Bangladesh.”

Hinting at Mirza Abbas, Patwary said he was trying to “kill” democracy in his own area and at a college bearing his name, calling it “unacceptable in Bangladesh”.

The NCP leader also claimed an alliance between rival forces. “We are hearing that the Jatiya Party and the BNP have merged. Behind the Jatiya Party is the Awami League, and behind the Awami League is India."

“We are receiving a massive response. Gen-Z voters are stamping heavily on the [NCP's electoral symbol] Shapla Koli. Many are saying, ‘Brother, we brought the slip.’ Out of fear, inside the booth they are stamping on Shapla Koli.”

“In Dhaka, Shapla Koli will win by a landslide. But this victory will not be Nasiruddin Patwary’s -- it will belong to our martyred brother Osman Hadi. People are telling me, ‘We are not voting for you; we would have voted for Osman Hadi. We are giving his vote to you.’”

'DON'T LEAVE THE FIELD OUT OF FEAR'

Patwary said his supporters were facing attacks in several areas but had been told not to retaliate.

“In many places, our people are being attacked. We have instructed our leaders and activists to inform the administration if anyone attacks them. They should not engage in violence themselves. We will address everything through the administration, since they have taken responsibility,” he said.

“Yesterday at the Cultural Development Centre, 13 of our people were injured. We held back. But today, if anyone is attacked in front of the administration, in front of the army, we will retaliate. We are warning them.”

“We have been beaten enough, but we can also strike back. Some are afraid because more seals are being stamped on the Shapla Koli symbol. They may try to leave the election. We are telling them: stay on the ground, do not be afraid. Stay for the full 90 minutes. We have entered a test match — stay in the game, do not walk out. Do not lose hope. Since you have entered the game, finish it. This game will end in victory for Shapla Koli.”