Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Central Election Management Committee Spokesperson and Adviser to the Party Chairman Mahdi Amin on Monday alleged that a particular political group has launched a coordinated smear campaign after realizing the inevitability of BNP’s victory in the upcoming national election.
Addressing a press conference at the BNP Election Management Committee office in Gulshan, Mahdi Amin said that the rival group is resorting to misinformation, deception, and unethical tactics to mislead voters and disrupt the electoral environment.
“The people of Bangladesh have already decided in favor of BNP. Realizing their unavoidable defeat, a certain political group has become desperate and is now engaging in widespread propaganda, falsehoods, and unethical practices,” he said.
Mahdi Amin alleged that activists of the rival party have been going door-to-door collecting voters’ bKash numbers and national identity (NID) details. He claimed that attempts are being made to influence voters by transferring money through mobile financial services such as bKash, Rocket, and Nagad, as well as by offering what he termed “tickets to heaven” in exchange for votes.
“Religious-minded citizens of this country are rejecting these unethical inducements. We have also received information from various parts of the country about large-scale production of burqas and niqabs, which raises serious concerns about possible misuse during voting,” he said.
Mahdi Amin emphasized that BNP deeply respects Islamic values and considers the burqa and niqab to be important elements of religious and cultural identity for Muslim women.
“BNP has always upheld the dignity, privacy, and modesty of women. However, if anyone attempts to misuse religious attire to impersonate voters or cast fraudulent ballots, it is deeply regrettable,” he said.
He urged election authorities to ensure proper identification of voters, particularly female voters, by following established procedures. These include verifying identity in the presence of female presiding or assistant presiding officers and female polling agents, similar to the processes used for passport, visa, hajj, or umrah documentation.
Mahdi Amin also condemned what he described as deliberate propaganda targeting the administration and election officials.
“We have noticed attempts to portray certain government officials and election personnel as politically biased. This is highly undesirable and appears to be a planned effort to create mistrust,” he said.
He added that BNP maintains full confidence in the professionalism, neutrality, and integrity of the Election Commission, the interim government, and all officials involved in conducting the polls.
“We urge those spreading such misinformation to immediately refrain from these activities, which only serve to confuse voters and undermine democratic institutions,” he said.
Highlighting BNP’s record on women’s empowerment, Mahdi Amin said the party has consistently worked to advance women’s rights through education, employment, and social inclusion.
“BNP established a separate ministry for women, expanded employment opportunities for women through the garments industry, ensured stipends and free education for girls, and promoted women’s participation in public and private sectors. This is why Begum Khaleda Zia is globally recognized as a role model for women’s empowerment,” he said.
In contrast, he accused BNP’s political rivals of repeatedly making derogatory remarks about women, attempting to restrict their rights, reduce working hours, and limit their freedom.
“While BNP has nominated the highest number of female candidates in this election, that particular party has not nominated even a single woman candidate. This clearly reflects their anti-women stance,” he said.
Mahdi Amin further accused the rival party of distorting history and exploiting religion for political gain.
“The party that opposed Bangladesh’s independence during the Liberation War is now falsely claiming patriotic credentials. At the same time, they are misusing Islam by offering so-called ‘tickets to heaven,’ spreading religious misinformation, and manipulating public sentiment,” he said.
He also pointed out contradictions in the rival party’s election manifesto, noting that despite adopting an anti-India stance publicly, they used multiple Indian images in their campaign materials.
Expressing concern over the approval of local election observers, Mahdi Amin said the Election Commission authorized 55,454 observers from 81 organizations, of which nearly 69 percent come from 16 relatively unknown and inexperienced organizations.
“Several of these organizations reportedly have links to a specific political group, raising serious questions about their neutrality,” he said, adding that BNP has already formally requested the Election Commission to take necessary measures.
Mahdi Amin also voiced strong concern over a government directive banning mobile phone usage within 400 yards of polling centers.
“We believe this decision will negatively impact the festive atmosphere of the election, discourage voter participation, and create unnecessary fear among voters. We urge the Election Commission to reconsider and withdraw this order immediately,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Mahdi Amin said that BNP is enjoying overwhelming public support nationwide, citing media reports, opinion polls, and massive public participation in election rallies led by BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman.
“There is a nationwide wave in favor of the sheaf of paddy symbol. If a free, fair, and credible election is held, BNP’s landslide victory is guaranteed,” he said.
He further asserted that Tarique Rahman is the most widely accepted national leader and the natural choice for prime minister.
“If one asks today who truly deserves to be the prime minister of Bangladesh, the answer is clear: Tarique Rahman. His historic return to the country demonstrated unparalleled public support, unmatched by any other political leader,” Mahdi Amin added.
