Election ‘satisfactory’ until afternoon, then ‘attacks’ started, says NCP

“In different centres, our polling agents were barred from entering,” says NCP’s Monira Sharmin

The National Citizen Party (NCP) says voting in the parliamentary election and referendum was “satisfactory” until 12pm, alleging that complaints have since emerged from across the country.

Monira Sharmin, secretary of the party’s electioneering committee, said NCP polling agents were barred from entering several centres.

“Since the afternoon, our leaders, activists and centre observers have come under attack.”

“We have seen activists of a specific party trying to influence voters inside polling centres.”

Sharmin held a press conference at the party’s Banglamotor office on Thursday afternoon while voting was still under way.

Referring to Dhaka-18 constituency, she said: “Polling agents of the Sheaf of Paddy entered centres wearing party identity cards and tried to influence voters. The incident took place at Uttara High School and College centre.”

“When NCP candidate Nasiruddin Patwary went to inspect centres in Dhaka-8, he was attacked by local BNP activists, which we have seen reported in various media outlets.

“At Mirza Abbas Mohila Degree College centre in the same constituency, BNP activists obstructed our polling agent from entering. We observed similar influences in Dhaka-9 as well.”