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Dhaka, May 21, 2025 – Activists from the National Citizen Party (NCP) broke through police barbed-wire barricades and took position in front of the main gate of the Election Commission (EC) in Dhaka’s Agargaon area on Wednesday, demanding the swift restructuring of the EC and the organization of local government elections. The protesters attempted to enter the EC building but were stopped by law enforcement agencies.
The demonstration began around 11:45 AM, with NCP leaders and activists assembling outside the EC building. By 1:20 PM, the protesters breached the security barricades and reached the main gate, where they were halted by police and other security forces. Despite their efforts to enter the premises, the law enforcement agencies prevented their advance, and the protesters staged a sit-in at the gate.
The protest rally was initiated with a welcome speech by Masum Billah, the NCP representative from Kalabagan Thana. The NCP has been vocal about its lack of confidence in the current Election Commission, citing its alleged biased role in past elections, particularly the controversial 2020 Dhaka South City Corporation election. The party demands the immediate reconstitution of the EC and the scheduling of local government elections to address ongoing public grievances and governance issues.
In response to the protest, authorities deployed a robust five-layer security arrangement around the EC building. Since early Wednesday morning, police, Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and military personnel have maintained a strong presence. Barbed-wire barricades were set up along the road leading to the EC building to control the situation.
The NCP’s protest is part of its broader movement to reform the electoral system, which the party claims has been marred by irregularities and bias under the current EC framework. The demonstration follows recent tensions surrounding the EC’s decision to publish a gazette declaring BNP’s Ishraque Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, a move that has sparked controversy and further fueled the NCP’s demands.
AI/MR
