Election Commission vows ‘strict action’ if proof of vote trading emerges

It says vote buying is a punishable offence

The Election Commission (EC) has warned of “strict action” if evidence of vote buying emerges in the national election and referendum.

The warning came in a media statement issued around 9pm on Wednesday, a day before polling, amid widespread discussion over alleged cash transactions and the movement of money.

According to the statement, a political party has alleged that vote buying is taking place in different parts of the country.

“Vote buying is a punishable offence under the law,” the EC said. “If involvement in vote trading is found, strict action will be taken against those responsible.”

In the evening, a BNP delegation met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at his office in Agargaon.

The BNP’s electioneering chief Nazrul Islam Khan-led delegation accused the Jamaat-e-Islami of distributing money to influence voters.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Nazrul said several “highly undesirable incidents” had taken place.

“We felt these were not only unacceptable to us but also to people across the country. That is why we thought it necessary to inform the Election Commission so that such activities do not recur,” he said.

Referring to the reported recovery of a large sum of money from a Jamaat leader at Saidpur Airport, he added: “There is much discussion about it. The question of right and wrong will be judged accordingly. But the timing of the incident makes it questionable.”