[🇧🇩] Forming Election Commission/Conducting Elections

[Saif]

EC seeks expanded power to cancel entire balloting in constituency over irregularities

The Election Commission headed by AMM Nasir Uddin is going to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) rules to empower itself with the authority to annul voting in an entire constituency in the event of irregularities. The proposed changes also include a provision allowing the revocatio

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

EC seeks expanded power to cancel entire balloting in constituency over irregularities

bdnews24.com
Published :
Aug 12, 2025 00:38
Updated :
Aug 12, 2025 00:46

The Election Commission headed by AMM Nasir Uddin is going to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) rules to empower itself with the authority to annul voting in an entire constituency in the event of irregularities.

The proposed changes also include a provision allowing the revocation of a candidate’s status even after voting, if the candidate is found to have provided false information in their affidavit.

These changes were part of a package of reform proposals finalised at a meeting on Monday, said Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, who briefed media in the evening.

Among other decisions taken at the meeting were: reintroducing the “No” vote option to avoid uncontested victories when there is only a single candidate in a constituency, holding a fresh election instead of a lottery in the event of a tie, and introducing a system to monitor candidates’ election expenditure.

The day began with the ninth commission’s adjourned meeting at the Nirbachan Bhaban, presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner Nasir.

Sanaullah said the finalised set of RPO reform proposals will be sent to the relevant ministry for government approval next week.​

 

[Saif]

Election not happening in February: NCP

Nasiruddin Patwary, chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has dismissed the prospect of a general election taking place in February next year with reforms remaining unfinished. Addressing an event at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in Dhaka’s Farmgate on Tuesday, he dir

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Election not happening in February: NCP

Published :
Aug 12, 2025 20:22
Updated :
Aug 12, 2025 22:16

Nasiruddin Patwary, chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has dismissed the prospect of a general election taking place in February next year with reforms remaining unfinished.

Addressing an event at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in Dhaka’s Farmgate on Tuesday, he directly challenged the official election schedule, saying the proposed timeline was unrealistic.

His remarks came in the presence of BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and Jamaat-e-Islami deputy chief Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, reports bdnews24.com.

Nasiruddin said the election would not go ahead as planned unless key demands from the July Uprising were addressed.

“If the election takes place in February, this government will have to return the bodies of my brothers who were martyred, who shed blood for reforms.

“They must return the hands that were lost, the sons taken from their mothers. If not, there will be no election,” he added.​

 

[Saif]

EC forms committee to scrutinize local observer applications

A 10-member committee has been formed to scrutinise the applications of the intending local observer organisations of the next national parliamentary elections, a press release of the EC said. EC’s Law Division Joint Secretary Farukh Ahmed has been appointed as the convener of the committee,

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

EC forms committee to scrutinize local observer applications

BSS
Published :
Aug 13, 2025 20:55
Updated :
Aug 13, 2025 20:55

A 10-member committee has been formed to scrutinise the applications of the intending local observer organisations of the next national parliamentary elections, a press release of the EC said.

EC’s Law Division Joint Secretary Farukh Ahmed has been appointed as the convener of the committee, and Assistant Director (Public Relations) Md. Ashadul Haque has been appointed as the member secretary.

Ashadul Haque said that 331 organisations have applied to the Election Commission for registration as election observers.

The EC on July 27 invited applications from the intending organisations to register them as election observers.

Qualified non-government organisations will be given registration for 5 years as per the Election Observation Guidelines 2025.

The registered organisations will be able to observe all national and local government elections held during this period.​

 

[Saif]

Loan defaulters will not be allowed to contest national election: Salehuddin

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said the interim government will not allow the loan defaulters to contest the next parliamentary election scheduled for February 2026. “If political leaders encourage nomination and voting in exchange of money there’s nothing the Finance

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Loan defaulters will not be allowed to contest national election: Salehuddin

Published :
Aug 13, 2025 20:54
Updated :
Aug 13, 2025 20:54

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said the interim government will not allow the loan defaulters to contest the next parliamentary election scheduled for February 2026.

“If political leaders encourage nomination and voting in exchange of money there’s nothing the Finance Ministry can do, ” the adviser said at the launch of the “UPension” app, organised by the National Pension Authority at the Finance Ministry, UNB reports.

He also said that the ministry will extend all necessary cooperation to improve the law and order situation for holding a good election in February.

According to the current law, loan defaulters cannot contest the elections.

Under Article 12 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, a loan defaulter is ineligible to become a Member of Parliament.

“If one is a defaulter, they cannot run for office,” Salehuddin said, adding that this provision is often misused ahead of polls.

“The Election Commission should identify the loan defaulters,” he said.

Citing an example, he said former Awami League minister Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir served five years despite being a defaulter.

Asked about measures to curb the use of black money in the polls, the adviser said, “The matter has not yet come to us, the Election Commission will consider it.”

He mentioned that there are two aspects of black money — the source and the process.

“The source is now more or less blocked compared to past times. Earlier, the same person could be a bank owner, factory owner, newspaper owner, and flat owner. That’s no longer the case. Now there is some check and balance.”

About the remarks made NCP’s chief coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary on Tuesday that “there will be no election in February,” the finance adviser said, “Let them make political statements.”

The Adviser said he used to do leftist politics in his student life.“I also made many statements like — shut down the hall, close the university, and so on. Did they ever shut down?”​

 

[Saif]

Jamaat-e-Islami demands free and fair election: Dr Taher

Reiterating the call for a free, fair and neutral election, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher on Wednesday claimed that only one party has welcomed the government’s election roadmap while other pro-democracy parties have neither endorsed nor could endor

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Jamaat-e-Islami demands free and fair election: Dr Taher

UNB
Published :
Aug 14, 2025 00:01
Updated :
Aug 14, 2025 00:01

Reiterating the call for a free, fair and neutral election, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher on Wednesday claimed that only one party has welcomed the government’s election roadmap while other pro-democracy parties have neither endorsed nor could endorse it.

Speaking at a rally organized by the Dhaka city units (North and South) of the party on Bijoynagar Road, Dr. Taher emphasized that fundamental state reforms, justice for all past atrocities, and a level playing field have yet to be ensured. “Even after 54 years of independence, the people of this country have never witnessed a fully free, fair, and impartial election,” he said.

He highlighted that the July Uprising had raised hopes among citizens for a “new Bangladesh” with an election that truly reflects their will. Although the interim government had pledged to implement state reforms, Dr. Taher accused it of failing to purify and uphold the integrity of the institutions it currently controls, calling their promises “empty.”

Addressing the government, he criticised months of meetings under the guise of reform, which have yet to yield any legal basis for the reforms, and urged authorities not to deceive the public. He called for collaboration, saying, “Give us the responsibility, sit with us, and do not try to fool the people.”

Dr. Taher also reiterated the party’s support for the proportional representation (PR) system, which a survey by Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) shows is favored by 71 percent of the population.

“Democracy means respecting the majority’s voice. Yet, one political party opposes it because PR elections would prevent vote theft and curb authoritarian exploitation,” he said.

He warned that parties promising reform while in power should not now raise objections. “If they take office, how can citizens trust they will implement reforms?” he questioned, urging the government to provide a legal foundation for the July Declaration without delay.

Special addresses were delivered by Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and other central and city leaders, including Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, Dr. Rezaul Karim, Maulana Abdul Halim, Mohammad Selim Uddin, and Mobarak Hossain.

The rally concluded with a large protest procession from Bijoynagar to Kakrail Nightingale Mor, ending in front of the Chief Justice’s residence.

Central and city leaders, along with party activists at various levels, actively participated in the demonstration.​