Dhaka, Feb 09 (V7N)- Hasnat Abdullah, southern chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the 11-party alliance candidate for Comilla-4 constituency, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to ban mobile phones within polling station areas during the upcoming national election and referendum.

He made the demand in a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday (February 9).

In his post, Hasnat Abdullah wrote that banning mobile phones within a 400-yard radius of polling stations would effectively force voters to leave their phones at home.

“Not even a Mojo journalist or citizen journalist will be allowed. This is clearly a stubborn decision. Such a decision can only be taken if there is an intention to engineer or commit fraud,” he wrote.

Questioning the logic of the restriction, he said he had never seen such a ban before, adding that it would prevent people from seeking help in case of danger.

“If people cannot carry mobile phones due to insecurity, many may choose not to go to vote at all,” he said.

Hasnat Abdullah also argued that CCTV cameras alone are insufficient to ensure transparency at polling stations.

“The role journalists and citizens can play using mobile phones to immediately expose irregularities and fraud cannot be done by CCTV cameras,” he wrote, adding that personal mobile phones are effective tools to prevent centre capture and vote theft.

He alleged that the ban could be aimed at preventing the recording of irregularities.

“This is clearly an opportunity to steal votes. This decision should be withdrawn immediately,” he said.

Echoing the same demand, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem also protested the decision in a Facebook post.

Sadiq Kayem wrote that the mobile phone ban was imposed after the withdrawal of BNCC members, raising questions about the intent behind the move.

“Banning mobile phones within 400 yards of polling stations means that even if any unwanted incident occurs, the victim will not have any information or footage. This is an attempt to snatch citizens’ right to information in a neo-fascist manner,” he wrote.

Addressing the country’s youth, the DUCSU VP urged them to stand up for civil rights.

“The Election Commission was formed to ensure a free, fair and safe election—not to serve the interests of any group. We demand that the Election Commission immediately cancel this decision,” he said.

It may be recalled that the Election Commission on Sunday (February 8) issued a directive banning the entry of mobile phones into polling stations on the day of the 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum. The instruction was signed by Md. Shahidul Islam, Senior Assistant Secretary of the EC’s Election Management and Coordination-1 Branch.

END/SMA/AJ