NCP’s Patwary warns Election Commission fractured into four

He says they warned if it did not address these issues, all commissioners will be forced to resign

A delegation from the National Citizen Party has told the Election Commission officers that the body has “split into four”, Senior Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary has said.

On Sunday, after a meeting that ran for over an hour with EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, Patwary alleged the presiding officers of the EC at the field level are “from the Awami League”.

“The EC has been divided into four parts; one part has been taken over by the Army, and the remaining three parts have been distributed among the parties.

“No change has been observed in police; businessmen have no security. In such circumstances, how can an election be held in February?”

The deadline for selecting an alternative symbol arrived the same day after the allocation of the “Shapla”, or water lily, symbol became impossible. The NCP delegation submitted a written response, affirming its position within the allotted time.

About the meeting, Patwary said: “For an acceptable election, there must be an acceptable voter list, registration must be credible, institutions must be free from corruption, election commissioners cannot be partisan -- I made these points clear to them.”

He warned that no individual should be allowed unchecked power within the EC.

“We warned them today. If they proceed without resolving these issues, we will be compelled to force all members of this EC to resign,” he said.

Patwary added that, unless these concerns are addressed, the AMM Nasir Uddin-led commission cannot be the umbrella under which they will vote.

“If these matters are not resolved, we are effectively showing a way out. We are not here simply to demand resignations; we have set out steps that would restore democratic norms. If they do not act, their positions must be tendered, and the election will be rendered questionable.”