With the national election only four months away, Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that the administration, police, and Election Commission are working in favour of a major political party, while the National Citizen Party called for a reconstitution of the Election Commission. The parties voiced their concerns and demands at separate meetings with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday. Just a day earlier, at a meeting with the chief adviser, the BNP called for the interim government to assume the role of a caretaker government to ensure a neutral election.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) yesterday expressed serious concerns over what it termed the Election Commission's partial and non-transparent activities and urged the government to restructure the body to ensure a free and fair election.
The call came at a meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
A four-member delegation, led by NCP Convener Nahid Islam and including Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, and Joint Convener Khalid Saifullah, met Yunus yesterday evening.
At a press conference following the meeting, the NCP leaders raised issues related to the commission's neutrality, the stalled July uprising trials and the implementation of the July Charter.
The commission was not functioning as mandated by the constitution and appeared biased towards certain parties, Nahid said.
He cited examples such as the registration of the newly-formed "Jatiyo League", disputes over the "shapla" symbol and the commission's stance on the case involving Ishraque Hossain.
"If we are not allotted our symbol, it will not be possible for us to take part in the election. If we are denied our symbol without any valid explanation, it will raise questions about the commission's impartiality and sense of justice."
The government had assured them of measures to create a neutral environment and a level playing field for all parties, he added.
The NCP also expressed concern about the pending July murder cases, saying many accused were out on bail and threatening victims' families.
The party urged the government to publish the current status of about 800 cases and announce a timeline for their disposal before the election.On the July Charter, Nahid said the party would sign it only after receiving guarantees of its implementation.
"It is not enough to sign a document -- there must be a constitutional order to ensure execution. And only Dr Yunus -- whose legitimacy stems from the July Uprising -- can issue it."
The caretaker issue could only be addressed after a referendum, as specified in the charter.
"Those calling for it now might have other motives," he said.
The NCP also questioned the neutrality of recent administrative transfers and postings, alleging that ministries were being divided among political groups with support from within the advisory council.
At the briefing, Sarjis said the delegation discussed youth issues, particularly the revised Non-Cadre Recruitment Rules 2025, which awaits the chief adviser's approval.
"He assured us that once the file reaches his table, it will be signed within a week," he said.
Regarding student advisers in the government, Nahid said they represented the July Uprising and not any political party.
"If student advisers are seen as political representatives, the same should apply to other advisers with political backgrounds," he said.
He added that the government had promised to review the NCP's proposals after receiving the National Consensus Commission's recommendations.
"We believe both the Election Commission and the advisory council must demonstrate neutrality and competence for a fair election. Without that, neither reform nor justice can be achieved," Nahid said.
In a separate meeting, leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami also met with Yunus.
Meanwhile, the CA press wing in a statement said the chief adviser assured both the parties that the interim government would take all necessary steps to ensure the upcoming national election is free and fair.
To make the polls peaceful and festive, he sought cooperation from all political parties, including Jamaat and the NCP.
During the meeting, Yunus urged the NCP to sign the July Charter.
"This charter is a priceless asset for the nation -- participation of everyone is important here," he told the NCP delegation.
He also assured the NCP that the National Consensus Commission was working on the process of implementing the charter.
Nahid said the NCP had already sent a letter to the commission seeking discussions with its legal experts, said the CA press wing statement.