Bangladesh’s February 12 elections are already mired in historical animosities, with BNP leading the charge by imploring citizens to blacklist 1971 Liberation War collaborators— a not-so-subtle jab at Jamaat-e-Islami.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP’s general secretary and Thakurgaon-1 aspirant, thundered at a packed rally in the district’s Sadar upazila high school grounds. ‘Those who aided Pakistan’s forces till the bitter end now crave governance via your ballots. Vote wisely to avert national ruin,’ he urged.
Fakhrul wove in the war narrative seamlessly: ‘Our essence is rooted in 1971’s fight against Pakistani subjugation. Independence was hard-won; we can’t betray it now.’ He comforted Hindu attendees, vowing protection against pervasive persecution concerns.
Heightened pre-poll friction saw Jamaat and NCP protest at the Election Commission’s Dhaka HQ. Jamaat deputy Zubair alleged orchestrated attacks: ‘Women activists suffer molestation, veil yanking, and phone snatching. Fail to act, and chaos ensues pre-vote.’
NCP’s Ayman Raha slammed Dhaka-18 campaign violence and BNP’s Dhaka-8 state asset exploitation. ‘Rampant rule-breaking sans reprisal instills fear, robbing us of equitable contests,’ she charged.
Coalition partners in Hasina’s ouster, these groups’ infighting exposes raw ambitions. By resurrecting 1971 divides, BNP aims to corner the patriotic vote, setting the stage for a polarized poll. Observers warn that unresolved tensions could undermine democratic legitimacy and test the resilience of Yunus’s interim stewardship.