“The army engineered the election” – a direct accusation from defeated Allama Mamunul Haque

Staff Correspondent

The defeated candidate of Dhaka-13 constituency and Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Maulana Mamunul Haque, has directly accused the army of engineering the electoral process and defeating him. He made this sensational allegation in an interview with Khaled Mohiuddin, which is the first time such a clear allegation has been made against the army by a candidate after almost 10 days of the 12 February 2026 parliamentary elections. The allegation raises serious questions about the transparency, impartiality and role of the army in the elections.

In the interview, Mamunul Haque claimed that the army directly interfered in the election process — influencing voters, aiding irregularities at polling stations, and working in favor of his rival, BNP’s Bobby Hajjaj. “The army ensured my defeat through election engineering,” he said. “This is not just a conspiracy against me, it is a conspiracy against democracy.” He called the army “the biggest threat to the electoral process,” challenging the army’s fundamental principle of impartiality.

This is the first direct allegation against the army by a candidate since the election. The leader of the Islamic Alliance also said, “The army has influenced the election and worked for or against any candidate, which is unconstitutional and undemocratic.” The allegation has sparked a stir in political circles.

Political analysts say the allegations could seriously damage the army’s image.

There has been no official response from the army yet following Mamunul Haque’s direct accusation, but sources said they may launch an investigation into the matter.

The incident has sparked fresh debate over the transparency of the country’s electoral system. Political parties are demanding an independent investigation into the allegations, which could help to verify allegations of military interference. Mamunul Haque’s allegations have sparked distrust and mistrust of the Bangladesh Army among those aligned with religious political parties.