Bangladesh Polls: Jamaat, NCP Allege Pro-BNP Tilt, Question Fairness

• Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP) allege upcoming Bangladesh general elections are neither free nor fair, with NCP claiming the system is customized for a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) victory.
• NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah accused the administration of tilting towards BNP, citing the validation of a BNP candidate's nomination despite loan default allegations.
• Tarique Rahman's return to Bangladesh after 17 years, his acquittals, and quick voter list inclusion are seen by NCP-Jamaat as government facilitation for a power transfer to him.
• Mass cancellation of Jamaat-e-Islami nominations, including leaders like Hamidur Rahman Azad, is widely perceived as a strategic move to place BNP in a favorable electoral position.
• India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Tarique Rahman with PM Modi's letter indicates New Delhi's awareness of Bangladesh's evolving political landscape.

Why It Matters: Bangladesh elections face scrutiny as Jamaat and NCP allege a systemic pro-BNP bias.