Nasiruddin Appeals to Halt Mirza Abbas’s Oath

In a formal submission to the Election Commission, Nasiruddin Patwary, candidate of the Shapla Kali symbol from the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), representing the 11-party alliance, has requested that the oath-taking of Mirza Abbas, elected from Dhaka-8, be temporarily suspended. The appeal cites substantial evidence of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and undue influence during the recent parliamentary election.

The application, submitted on Saturday (14 February) to the Chief Election Commissioner by NCP leader Kazi Fakhrul Islam on behalf of Nasiruddin Patwary, details allegations across twelve polling centres in the constituency. The document lists eleven specific points highlighting irregularities observed during the vote.

According to Patwary, Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) candidate for the Dhaka-8 seat, along with his supporters, agents, and family members, allegedly engaged in vote rigging, exerting undue influence, obstructing vote counting, and incorporating annulled ballots in the final tally.

Furthermore, Patwary accuses both the presiding officers of the respective polling centres and the constituency’s returning officer of complicity in these irregularities, ultimately declaring the BNP candidate as the winner despite alleged manipulations. Through this appeal, he urges the Election Commission to investigate the claims thoroughly and take action in accordance with electoral law and regulations.

The Dhaka-8 seat has been under scrutiny since the start of the 13th parliamentary elections, with the constituency drawing significant political attention. In the vote held on Thursday (12 February), Mirza Abbas, a permanent committee member of the BNP, secured victory with a narrow margin.

Dhaka-8 Election Results

The margin of 5,696 votes between the two candidates underscores the competitive nature of the race and forms the basis of the petition for a temporary halt to the oath-taking. The Election Commission is now expected to review the claims and determine whether any procedural measures or investigations are warranted.