BNP Student Wing Continues Second-Day Encirclement of Election Commission Over Three Issues

Leaders and activists of the BNP’s student wing resumed their encirclement of the Election Commission (EC) headquarters on Monday for a second consecutive day, pressing three demands, including allegations of bias in decisions related to postal ballots. They said the protest would continue until their demands are met.

On Sunday, the demonstrators staged a sit-in in front of the EC office in Agargaon, Dhaka, from around 11:00am until nearly 8:00pm. Before ending the programme that night, the organisation’s central president, Rakibul Islam, announced that the protest would be repeated on Monday over the same issues.

As announced earlier, student wing leaders and activists began the second day’s encirclement around 11:30am on Monday. Thousands of activists from various educational institutions, including the organisation’s central president and general secretary, joined the programme.

The three issues raised by the student wing are:

1. The Election Commission has taken what they describe as biased and questionable decisions regarding postal ballots, creating serious doubts about the neutrality of the electoral process.

2. Under pressure from a particular political group, the EC is allegedly making hasty and short-sighted decisions instead of responsible and logical ones, raising concerns about the commission’s independence and professionalism.

3. Influenced directly by a specific political party, the EC has issued what they call an unprecedented and controversial notification regarding the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology students’ union election, which they say threatens democratic practices at the university.

During the protest, law enforcement personnel set up barricades in front of the main gate of the EC headquarters. The demonstrators occupied the road in front of the barricades, chanting slogans in support of their demands, while student leaders addressed the gathering.

Members of the law enforcement agencies were seen remaining on alert throughout the programme.

On Sunday, the protesters stayed in front of the EC for nearly nine hours. At one stage, around 5:00pm, a five-member delegation from the student wing held a meeting with the Election Commission, where they presented their concerns on the three issues.

Student wing leaders said that although the EC gave them assurances during the meeting, the lack of concrete action prompted them to continue the protest for a second day.