Patwari moves to stall Abbas oath, alleges massive rigging in Dhaka-8

A fresh political storm brews in Dhaka-8 as National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari has formally petitioned Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, demanding an immediate halt to the oath-taking of BNP nominee Mirza Abbas.

In a written plea submitted to the Election Commission on Sunday through NCP leader Kazi Fakhrul Islam, Patwari called for urgent intervention, alleging sweeping electoral malpractices and procedural breaches in the constituency.

The petition lists eleven specific allegations centering on twelve polling stations. Patwari argues that the declared result stands tainted by illegality and demands administrative review alongside statutory remedies.

Contesting under the Shapla Kali symbol as part of Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, Patwari did not mince words. In his complaint, he alleged that "Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, the candidate with the paddy sheaf symbol, along with his leaders, activists, agents and even family members, engaged in widespread irregularities - including vote rigging, influence peddling, withholding of results, invalidation and manipulation of ballots."

He further alleged institutional complicity, claiming that at one stage both the Presiding Officer and the Returning Officer of the concerned centres became entangled in the irregularities.

Patwari challenged the validity of the final declaration, asserting that instead of recognising him as the rightful winner, authorities "declared the candidate of the paddy sheaf as the winning candidate through rigging and irregularities." He described the outcome as a direct affront to electoral rules, due process and the principle of free and fair franchise.