Staff Reporter:
BNP Standing Committee member and party-nominated candidate for the Dhaka-8 seat Mirza Abbas yesterday expressed suspicions about election engineering as some candidates are claiming certain victory despite having no public connection or electoral experience.
“I have been contesting elections in this area since 1977. Before any election, I have never been able to say with certainty that I will win,” he said.
Talking to journalists after offering Zohr prayers at the Central Police Hospital Mosque in Rajarbagh yesterday, the BNP leader said that even as an experienced politician, he still cannot say he is a sure winner in the election.
“But those who have never contested an election, have no public connection, are not known in the area and have never been involved in local development work are now claiming they will definitely win. How can they be so confident?” he said.
Abbas, a former minister, expressed doubt over such confident claims of victory, saying these raise con-cerns about possible election manipulation. “Those who are not supposed to win are saying they have already won. This makes me doubtful. I fear they may be planning vote rigging or election engineering.”
The BNP leader urged his party colleagues and supporters to remain alert and guard polling stations on February 12 so that no one can engage in election engineering.
Responding to questions about recent anti-women remarks made by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Abbas said such comments were not new. “He has made derogatory remarks before as well. He is an experienced and prudent person. Basically, he was with JSD. He and two other senior leaders came to Jamaat from other parties.”
After joining Jamaat, he said they behave in a way as if they must say such things so that people can understand they belong to Jamaat. “That is why they find the courage to make offensive remarks about women.”
Regarding the Jamaat Ameer’s claim that his social media account had been hacked, Abbas said he was surprised by how quickly the account was recovered. “I did not know that a hacked account could be restored so quickly.”
Later in the afternoon, Mirza Abbas carried out door-to-door campaigning, seeking votes for the BNP’s electoral symbol Sheaf of Paddy, in Shahjahanpur Income Tax Colony and nearby market areas.
He also held meetings and continued campaigning in the Shahjahanpur Jahaj Building Road area in the evening.
