Hasnat sounds alarm over alleged plans to seize polling centres

Hasnat Abdullah, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami–led 11-party alliance–nominated candidate for the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency, said that many people are planning to seize polling centres and steal votes.

“Those who are making such plans should be careful. Those of you present here should go to guard the polling centres right after the Fajr prayer,” he said.

Hasnat made these remarks on Tuesday morning during a courtyard meeting held at the Wahedpur Ghoshaibari field in Subil union of Debidwar upazila.

He said, “If anyone comes to take over polling centres, tie up them and hand them over to the police. This time, preventing vote rigging does not require political leaders. Those who took to the streets during the July movement will stop it. During the July movement, our mothers and sisters stood at street corners and gave us water—this time they will also prevent vote rigging.”

He added, “In this Bangladesh, the politics of vote rigging ended immediately after Hasina fled. Those who attempt vote theft and centre takeover will face the same fate as Hasina.”

Hasnat further said, “One party is spreading propaganda that if the ‘Yes’ vote wins in the referendum, ‘Bismillah’ will be removed from the Constitution. Is this written anywhere in the conditions of the ‘Yes’ vote? In the election, you will cast two votes—one for the Shapla symbol and another ‘Yes’ vote. The reconstruction of future Bangladesh will be built on the basis of the ‘Yes’ vote.”