NCP’s Nasiruddin Patwari says the party is receiving an overwhelming response from the public

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), visited several polling centres in Dhaka-8 today and said voters were backing the party’s “Shapla Koli” (water lily bud) symbol. Speaking to journalists at the Mirza Abbas Mohila College centre in Shahjahanpur around 11:30am, he alleged that NCP supporters were facing intimidation amid the party’s rising popularity. He expressed confidence that the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance would secure victory and form the next government.

Patwari also claimed that India was supporting the BNP and alleged that the Awami League and India were effectively contesting the election together against Jamaat and the NCP. “Even so, we are optimistic that the NCP will win,” he said.

He added that if his alliance comes to power, extortionists and corrupt individuals would be forced out of the country.

Patwari further alleged that agents of the Jatiya Party’s plough symbol were working in favour of BNP candidate Mirza Abbas, who is contesting with the sheaf of paddy symbol, though he did not specify the centres where this was occurring. In response, agents representing both the plough and sheaf of paddy symbols, speaking on condition of anonymity, rejected the allegations as false.

Presiding Officer Nurul Islam said that 32.95 percent of votes had been cast at the Motijheel Ideal School and College centre by 12:08pm, noting that voting was taking place in a peaceful, free, and fair environment. Patwari, who also visited the centre, said, “Voting is largely peaceful. We are receiving a strong response from the people. We have been visiting various centres and hearing that plough agents are allegedly working in favour of the sheaf of paddy.”