Photo: Collected

DHAKA, June 22, 2025 (BSS) – BNP today filed allegations to the Election Commission (EC) against the former CECs and other election commissioners for holding controversial 10th, 11th and 12th national elections and appealed for legal action against them on the charge.

The party will lodge case against the commissioners with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station, the party sources said.

A five member delegation of the party led by BNP’s executive committee member Salah Uddin Khan submitted the allegation signed by BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasiruddin at Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon here.

Salah Uddin Khan, coordinator of BNP’s case and information preservation cell, said the then CEC and other officials did not take any step even after lodging complaints repeatedly against the three controversial elections.

“We hope that the incumbent commission will take action against them after investigation. So, we have submitted a letter of the BNP secretary general to the EC in this regard,” he explained.

As the EC office is located at Agargaon area, so a case will be filed with Sher-E-Bangla Nagar police, he said, adding that the names of 19 have been mentioned in the letter and the investigation officer will find out them.

In 2018, the election commission illegally declared the result of the parliament election. BNP candidates lodged written complaint against to the district and upazila election offices demanding cancellation of result of the fake election, BNP said.

“Nonetheless, the EC did not take any effective and legal steps in this regard,” it said requesting the EC to take quick legal action against them.

In the 10th general election on January 5, 2014, the Awami League candidates own unopposed in 153 seats out of 300 in which BNP didn’t take part. BNP dubbed the parliament as the ‘parliament without vote’.

At that time CEC Quazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed led the Commission while other commissioners were-former additional secretary Mohammad Abu Hafiz, former joint secretary Mohammad Abdul Mubarrak, Brigadier General (retd) M Zabed Ali and retired district session Judge M Shahnewaz.

The 11th parliament election was held on December 30, 2018. BNP contested in the polls under the Jatiya Oikya Front. But the 11th parliament election was marred by allegations of ballot-stuffing, voter intimidation and suppression of the opposition.

In that election Awami League candidates won in 288 seats out of 300 despite BNP’s participation. The opposition parties got victory only in seven seats and the election was dubbed as the ‘election in night’.

The election was led by CEC KM Nurul Huda and other commissioners were –former secretary Rafiqul Islam, former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, retired district judge Kabita Khanam and Brigadier General (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.

The 2024 polls were boycotted by the BNP-led alliance. To show the election as a participatory one, the ruling party shared the parliamentary seats with the Jatia Party. But, the rebels within the Awami League were the main contesters of the principal candidates, branding the polls as ‘Ami and Dummy’ election. 

In that election, former secretary Quazi Habibul Awal was the CEC and other commissioners were-retired senior secretary M Alamgir and Anisur Rahman, retired district and session Judge Rasheda Sultana and retired Brigadier General Ahsan Habib Khan.