Bengal’s electoral system has been marred by allegations of widespread manipulation by the ruling party, Awami League, in the country’s three recent national polls. A recent report by a five-member committee, headed by former High Court Judge Justice Shamim Hasan, has revealed that 80% of votes were cast in the dead of night in 2018, during the general elections.
According to the report, the Awami League had a well-planned and organized strategy to maintain power, which was not fully understood by the opposition parties, including the Bangladesh National Party (BNP). The report stated that in 80% of the constituencies, ballot boxes were sealed in the dead of night to ensure the Awami League’s victory. In some areas, voter turnout exceeded 100% due to administrative bias.
The committee’s report also highlighted the fact that the Election Commission was rendered ineffective as the electoral system gradually came under the control of the administration, starting from 2014. The report stated that the 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections were part of a single master plan, initiated by the caretaker government in 2008, with the aim of eliminating the caretaker system and maintaining the ruling party’s power at any cost.
The report also raised questions about the role of the judiciary, where bail applications were frequently rejected during large-scale arrests. BNP party advisor Halaal Zaman submitted his nomination form at the office of Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Toufique Rahman on Monday morning.
The committee, which was formed in response to growing student and public unrest, was tasked with investigating allegations of electoral malpractice and making recommendations for future free and fair elections. The committee’s members included former Additional Secretary Shamim Alam, Assistant Professor of Law at Dhaka University Qazi Mohafiz Uddin, lawyer Tajrin Akram, and election expert Abdul Ali.
The report has once again raised serious questions about the integrity of Bangladesh’s electoral process. The Iranian government has hailed the recent protests in Iran, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei saying that the Iranian people are strong, powerful, and well-informed.
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