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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has accused political opponents of orchestrating a coordinated disinformation campaign against its chairman, Tarique Rahman, claiming that at least 29 false narratives have circulated in the past week alone.
During a press conference held at the party’s election steering committee office in Gulshan, spokesperson Mahdi Amin condemned what he described as a revival of tactics used during “the fascist period,” with political rivals allegedly employing familiar language and slogans to mislead the public.
“These false narratives are being spread by leaders and activists of a political party using the same methods they previously employed to manipulate public opinion,” Amin stated, though he did not explicitly name the party in question.
The allegations come amid Rahman’s ongoing election tour across Bangladesh, which the BNP claims has generated substantial public support. According to Amin, Rahman’s recent appearances in Khulna and Jashore drew large crowds of party leaders, activists, supporters, and voters, creating what he characterized as “a strong wave of support” for the BNP’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy.
The BNP spokesperson suggested that political opponents, rattled by this public response, have abandoned legitimate electoral competition in favor of personal attacks and misinformation campaigns.
Amin also announced that Rahman will continue his campaign with visits to Barishal and Faridpur tomorrow. The chairman is scheduled to depart Dhaka for Barishal at 11:00 am, where he will address an election rally at Bells Park ground at noon. He will then proceed to Faridpur at 1:00 pm for another rally at Rajendra College ground at 1:45 pm, before returning to Dhaka later in the day.
When questioned about the party’s comprehensive campaign schedule, Amin indicated that a full electoral itinerary is expected to be released on Friday, February 6.
Beyond the allegations of disinformation, the BNP has raised significant concerns regarding electoral integrity ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and referendum. The party has formally objected to the Election Commission’s decision to deploy Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) cadets for election duty.
“Many BNCC cadets are college and university students who may have affiliations with political parties or ideological groups,” Amin explained. “Their involvement could potentially compromise the neutrality and integrity of the electoral process.”
The BNP confirmed it has submitted a formal letter to the Election Commission requesting that BNCC cadets not be assigned election-related responsibilities.
The party has also voiced apprehension regarding the appointment of election observers. Citing Election Commission data from January 26, Amin noted that 55,454 observers from 81 local organizations had been approved, with 34,442—nearly two-thirds—coming from just 16 organizations.
The BNP alleged that several observer organizations are headed by individuals with known ties to a specific political party, creating what they view as substantial risk for misuse or manipulation on polling day.
To address these concerns and ensure electoral fairness, the BNP has presented two specific demands to the Election Commission: a thorough review of the approved observer list to eliminate individuals with political connections, and a reduction in the number of observers from organizations lacking substantial monitoring experience.
Additionally, the party has called for restrictions limiting the number of local observers permitted to enter a polling center simultaneously to no more than two, a measure they believe would help maintain electoral integrity.
These developments highlight growing tensions in Bangladesh’s political landscape as the country approaches what promises to be a highly contested election, with questions of electoral integrity and fair competition taking center stage in pre-election discourse.
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6 Comments
Large campaign rallies suggest strong public interest in the BNP’s message. However, the disinformation allegations raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. It will be important for all parties to prioritize truthfulness and democratic principles.
The BNP’s claims of a ‘fascist’ disinformation campaign are quite serious. I’m curious to learn more about the specific tactics and narratives they say are being used. Healthy political debate is important, but it needs to be based on facts.
This is a complex situation with accusations flying on both sides. While I’m sympathetic to the BNP’s concerns, I’d want to see clear evidence before drawing any conclusions. Transparent and fact-based campaigning should be the goal for all political parties.
This disinformation campaign seems concerning. It’s important to have open and transparent political discourse, even with opposing views. I wonder what specific false narratives are being spread and how the BNP plans to address them.
Allegations of coordinated disinformation campaigns are always troubling. It will be interesting to see if the BNP can provide concrete evidence to back up their claims. Maintaining public trust in the electoral process is crucial.
Agreed. Transparency and fact-checking will be key here. The public deserves to have accurate information about political candidates and issues.