Offer Fajr namaaz at polling booths: What's behind BNP's call to its supporters?

BNP chief Tarique Rahman has asked party members and supporters to offer Fajr (dawn) namaaz at polling stations on February 12, the day of Bangladesh votes. Behind the appeal is not faith, but fear of the mandate being stolen.

BNP chief Tarique Rahman has called the party's members and supporters to offer their Fajr namaaz (dawn prayers) at polling booths. Though it might look like an appeal for divine good luck, Tarique's request to supporters days before the crucial February 12 election in Bangladesh, is political.

The BNP leader's call was driven by the fear of electoral manipulation. Tarique Rahman said that BNP activists should not come to polling booths after offering the Fajr prayer in the morning, but should arrive the previous night, after offering the Tahajjud namaaz (late night around 2 am). He has framed this as a strategy to physically and morally guard the ballot during the polls in Bangladesh, which are being held under the shadow of alleged fraud, violence, a shortage of police personnel, and deteriorating law-and-order situation.

Tarique Rahman's concern over security is hardly misplaced. On Monday itself, The Daily Star reported that miscreants set fire to four polling booths in the northern district of Netrokona. A day ago, the Bangladesh Army arrested a terrorist in the capital Dhaka with three foreign pistols, 13 locally made weapons, and various types of ammunition, reported Prothom Alo. Later on Monday night, a Hindu businessman was stabbed to death inside his shop in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district.

Last week, the Bangladesh Police arrested two people, including a Jamaat leader after seizing six illegally made ballot seals in Lakshmipur district, reported NewAge BD.

On February 12, Bangladesh would not just vote for the next government but would also approve or disprove the July Charter, which is being personally being spearheaded by Muhammad Yunus and his regime in favour of a "yes vote".

In the last few days, Rahman has, on at least five occasions, repeated the "prayer call" at election rallies across Dhaka, Gazipur, Noakhali, Narayanganj, Habiganj and Brahmanbaria. According to pre-poll surveys, the BNP has emerged as the leading frontrunner in the election, with its former ally-turned-rival Jamaat-e-Islami breathing close down its neck.