Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Shafiqur Rahman, raised concerns on Thursday night, claiming that despite completed vote counting, results in various constituencies were being held back.
During a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Dhaka’s Moghbazar around 11:45 pm, Rahman expressed that they were leading in multiple constituencies where counting had wrapped up. However, he noted that the returning officers were delaying the announcement of results without clear reasons, leading to doubts about result transparency.
Rahman highlighted irregularities on the Election Commission’s website, mentioning sudden appearances and disappearances of seat allocation data, causing delays for their representatives.
He anticipated more clarity within the next day or two, emphasizing the Election Commission’s commitment to timely result announcements for the 13th parliamentary polls. Rahman questioned the persistence of unresolved outcomes in certain areas, pointing out Dhaka-8 as an example, criticizing such practices as unhealthy for the political process.
Acknowledging that elections bring both victors and losers, Rahman stressed the importance of positive politics, avoiding disputes over minor issues and steering clear of old political customs.
When asked about concerns regarding potential manipulation, Rahman refrained from immediate comments, suggesting the need for further verification before assigning blame.
The press conference was attended by other leaders from the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, including Nahid Islam from the National Citizen Party, Mamunul Haque from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Mustafaizur Rahman from the Bangladesh Labour Party.