The BNP has officially lodged a complaint with the Nasir Uddin-led Election Commission against three former Chief Election Commissioners (CECs)\u2014Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, KM Nurul Huda, and Kazi Habibul Awal. In addition, the party plans to file a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station against a total of 19 former commissioners, including those who oversaw the 10th, 11th, and 12th parliamentary elections, as well as unnamed individuals.<\/p>\n
On Sunday (June 22), a formal petition signed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was submitted to the current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MM Nasir Uddin. A BNP delegation led by party executive committee member Salah Uddin Khan (Coordinator of Legal and Information Preservation) submitted the petition to the EC. Among the central and local BNP leaders present were Mizanur Rahman, Iqbal Hossain, Shariful Islam, and Naeem Hasan.<\/p>\n
The BNP requested legal action against the CECs and election commissioners involved in conducting the 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections. A copy of the petition was first submitted to the Election Commission, after which Salah Uddin Khan proceeded to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station to file a case.<\/p>\n
Salah Uddin said that despite repeated complaints regarding these controversial elections, the then CECs and others took no action. \u201cWe hope the current Election Commission will investigate the matter and take action. We have submitted a letter signed by our Secretary General. Since the Election Commission building is located in the Agargaon area, the case will be filed at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
After meeting the CEC, Salah Uddin Khan said, \u201cWe met with both the CEC and the EC Secretary. We submitted the complaint to them. We believe the current commission will take legal steps in this matter. Since the former commission violated the constitution and committed criminal offenses, a case will be filed at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also stated that along with the three former CECs, the case includes election commissioners, secretaries, and even Sheikh Hasina. \u201cNow the police will conduct an investigation and take necessary actions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When asked about the assurance given by the current CEC, Salah Uddin replied, \u201cThe CEC told us they have received the copy and will take legal steps where possible. He assured us they are neutral\u2014\u2018We are not on your side or anyone else\u2019s; we are neutral, and whatever legal steps are required, we will take.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the interim government has already taken the initiative to form a committee to investigate the roles of the CECs, election commissioners, and EC secretaries involved in the controversial 10th, 11th, and 12th parliamentary elections held under the Awami League government. BNP\u2019s legal move follows this development.<\/p>\n
In the 10th national election held on January 5, 2014, 153 of the 300 constituencies were won uncontested by Awami League candidates. BNP boycotted the election, labeling it the \u201cvote-less parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led commission, the four election commissioners were: former additional secretary Mohammad Abu Hafiz, former joint secretary Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, retired Brigadier General Md. Zabed Ali, and retired district judge Md. Shahnewaz.<\/p>\n
During the 11th national election on December 30, 2018, BNP participated but alleged massive vote rigging. Most of the votes were reportedly cast the night before the election. The opposition secured only seven seats, and the election was dubbed the “midnight election.”<\/p>\n
The KM Nurul Huda-led commission included former secretary Rafiqul Islam, former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, retired district judge Kabita Khanam, and retired Brigadier General Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.<\/p>\n
In the 12th general election on January 7, 2024, BNP and its allies boycotted again. To portray the election as participatory, the ruling Awami League allowed seat-sharing with its ally and main opposition, the Jatiya Party. The contest was mainly between ruling party candidates and its own rebels. This election was nicknamed the \u201cMe and Dummy\u201d election.<\/p>\n
The Kazi Habibul Awal-led commission included four commissioners: retired senior secretaries Md. Alamgir and Anisur Rahman, retired district and sessions judge Rasheda Sultana, and retired Brigadier General Ahsan Habib Khan.<\/p>\n
On August 5, 2024, the Sheikh Hasina government fell following a student\u2013mass uprising. Most recently, on June 16, at a meeting of the National Consensus Commission, it was announced through a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has ordered the immediate formation of a committee to investigate the roles of the former CECs, election commissioners, and EC secretaries involved in conducting the three controversial national elections under the Awami League government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The BNP has officially lodged a complaint with the Nasir Uddin-led Election Commission against three former Chief Election Commissioners (CECs)\u2014Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, KM Nurul Huda, and Kazi Habibul Awal. In addition, the party plans to file a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station against a total of 19 former commissioners, including those who oversaw the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[39],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n