By granting government facilities and protocol to a particular political party, the administration is sending a message of bias, he said
NCP Convener Nahid Islam. Photo: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters
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NCP Convener Nahid Islam. Photo: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters
There is a lack of trust among political parties in the country regarding a level playing field that is necessary for the national election, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam said today (10 January).
“We have informed the European Union that we are still not confident enough about having a level playing field,” he told reporters after a meeting with the EU’s election observing delegation at InterContinental Dhaka this afternoon.
Chief Observer Dr Ieva Aišbērga is leading the EU Election Observation Mission.
Nahid said that by granting government facilities and protocol to a particular political party, the administration is sending a message of bias. He warned that this could create an uneven situation in the electoral field.
“Because at different levels of the administration, it sends a message about which side the government is on,” he added.
Regarding the meeting with the EU delegation, he said the EU will send a large observer mission to monitor the upcoming national election. “The EU wants the election to be free, competitive, and credible, so that the democratic transfer of power after the announcement of results can take place smoothly.
“To this end, the organisation has sought cooperation from all political parties.”
On the issue of alliance, the NCP chief said they will make a formal announcement within the next couple of days. “Internal preparations have been completed; only the announcement remains,” he added.
Regarding the media, he said that they are being targeted by a select few mainstream news outlets that are spreading negative or false news about NCP.
“We have repeatedly told this to the government and the Election Commission that the facilities of the level-playing field, whether administratively or in the media space, must be ensured equally,” he said.
Nahid also highlighted that many loan-defaulter candidates have initially been declared valid. “Even though the number is higher, only a few have been excluded.”