As Bangladesh prepares for voting in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election tomorrow, minority leaders and Islamic scholars have expressed support for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), while concerns remain over violence and the election environment.
Akashvani’s correspondent reports that a delegation from the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council met the BNP Election Management Committee on Tuesday night at its office in Dhaka. The BNP team was led by committee chairman Nazrul Islam Khan. Minority leaders said the meeting was a courtesy visit and focused on issues of security, inclusion and the overall election situation. At the same time, leaders from different Islamic groups called on voters to support the BNP’s election symbol, the Sheaf of Paddy.
In a press release, Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party Secretary General Muminul Islam said the support was based on the need for a safe and inclusive Bangladesh, where people of all religions and political views can live peacefully. He also accused Jamaat-e-Islami of spreading extremist messages after the July 2024 uprising. Religious debate increased after Hefazat-e-Islam ameer Muhibbullah Babunagari said that voting for Jamaat-e-Islami was not allowed in Islam. Speaking at a religious event in Chattogram, he warned that the Jamaat coming to power would harm Islam.
A video of his speech later spread widely on social media, causing controversy during the campaign. Meanwhile, 2,034 candidates from 51 political parties are contesting the election. BNP has the highest number of candidates. Voting will take place from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm in 299 constituencies tomorrow.
More than 127 million voters are registered across the country. To ensure security, nearly 900,000 members of the army, police and other forces have been deployed. Despite the heavy security presence, political violence has continued. Several people were injured in clashes between BNP and Jamaat activists in Bogura.
BNP leaders have also accused Jamaat supporters of trying to intimidate voters near polling centres. BNP has raised concerns about vote-buying and other election violations, saying the Election Commission has not taken enough action despite being informed. With only a day left before voting, questions remain about how peaceful and fair the election will be.
More than 2,000 candidates from 51 parties are contesting the polls, with voting set to take place from 7:30 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon on February 12. Security has been tightened nationwide, with nearly 900,000 personnel deployed. However, clashes between rival party activists and allegations of voter intimidation have raised fresh questions over how peaceful and fair the election will be.
