Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) activists flooded streets across Dhaka on Thursday, mounting intense pressure on authorities for comprehensive Election Commission reformation and immediate local government elections.
The demonstrations, spanning Jatrabari and Mirpur areas, mark the party's boldest challenge yet to what they term a "partisan" electoral system.
Speaking at a packed rally following a protest march at Jatrabari intersection, NCP Central Joint Chief Coordinator S M Shahriar delivered a scathing critique of current electoral arrangements.
"We don't want a bloody power transition. We want reforms in electoral process," Shahriar declared, warning that continued resistance to change would trigger renewed public uprising. His stark message carried particular weight as he referenced July movement, stating that its fighters "haven't returned home" and would continue mobilising to fulfil revolutionary aspirations.
The protests come amid mounting tensions over electoral legitimacy, with NCP Joint Member Secretary Nizam Uddin launching fierce accusations against political opponents. He condemned recent appointments in Chattogram and Dhaka whilst alleging that "former Mayor Taposh's associates are now being seen with BNP leaders." These claims highlight growing concerns about political realignments ahead of anticipated elections.
Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Md Sanaullah had earlier dismissed NCP's allegations as politically motivated during a Wednesday press briefing at EC headquarters.
"The decision on which election will be held first lies with government, not Election Commission," Sanaullah stated, maintaining commission's neutrality stance. His comments followed Tuesday's siege of EC headquarters by NCP activists, who accused the commission of partisan behaviour.
The protests reveal deepening fractures within Bangladesh's political landscape, with NCP leaders demanding repeal of what they call the "2022 Baksal-style Election Commission Formation Act."
NCP Joint Convenor Sarowar Tushar claimed the current EC "has lost credibility and now serves only one political interest," whilst Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary insisted national polls should only follow completion of local government elections.
At Mirpur demonstration, NCP Joint Member Secretary Akram Hossain questioned the EC's recent gazette issuances, describing decisions on "expired elections" as increasingly questionable. This technical challenge adds legal complexity to political demands for structural reform.
Commissioner Sanaullah emphasised that EC operates under constitutional constraints, explaining that commission members cannot legally become parties in election-related applications. "Since independence, there's no precedent of the commission proactively involving itself or filing an appeal in such cases," he noted, defending institutional limitations against activist demands.
The timing of these protests coincides with Election Commission's policy-level approval for new polling centre guidelines, shifting responsibility from deputy commissioners and police superintendents directly to EC. This administrative change, alongside draft codes of conduct for political parties and candidates, suggests ongoing institutional adjustments despite external pressure.
NCP's street mobilisation represents a calculated escalation in their campaign against current electoral arrangements. With warnings of renewed "neo-fascist" resistance and promises of continued revolutionary activism, the party's demands for immediate EC restructuring and Supreme Judicial Council formation signal intensifying political confrontation ahead of anticipated electoral contests.
NRE/SH
