[🇧🇩] Forming Election Commission/Conducting Elections

[Saif]

90% want local govt polls before national elections: study

The study surveyed 46,000 people nationwide

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90% want local govt polls before national elections: study

A study by the Election Reform Commission found that nearly 90 percent of respondents prefer local government elections before national parliamentary polls.

The findings were revealed today at a press briefing held at the commission's office within the national parliament premises. The study, carried out by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on behalf of the commission, surveyed 46,000 people nationwide.

"We currently do not have any union parishads or active local government bodies, and as a result, people are being deprived of essential civic services," said Badiul Alam Majumdar, chief of the Election Reform Commission, during the briefing.

In addition to the survey results, the commission recommended the formation of a permanent "Local Government Commission" to oversee and strengthen local governance in the country.​

 

[Saif]

Women should represent at least one-fourth of seats in House

Commission proposes reserving one-fourth of parliamentary seats for women who will be elected by popular vote

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Women should represent at least one-fourth of seats in House

Commission proposes reserving one-fourth of parliamentary seats for women who will be elected by popular vote

The Election Reform Commission proposed reserving one-fourth of parliamentary seats for women to be elected by popular vote.

They also recommended increasing the number of seats in the parliament by a hundred to 400.

The commission's chief Badiul Alam Majumdar presented these recommendations at a press briefing at their office in the National Parliament complex today.

Currently, 50 seats in parliament are reserved for women, who are selected by political parties. The distribution of reserved seats is proportional to the number of seats a party gets in parliamentary polls.

Critics have often pointed out that the parliamentarians of these seats lack empowerment as they fill the posts on political parties' patronage rather than the public's mandate.​

 

[Saif]

ELECTORAL REFORM: Re-election if 40pc votes not cast in constituency proposed

The electoral reform commission has proposed that the Election Commission hold a re-election if 40 per cent of the votes in a constituency is not cast...

www.newagebd.net

ELECTORAL REFORM: Re-election if 40pc votes not cast in constituency proposed
Staff Correspondent 16 January, 2025, 00:34

The electoral reform commission has proposed that the Election Commission hold a re-election if 40 per cent of the votes in a constituency is not cast.

It also proposed setting 16 years as the minimum age for NID eligibility, stricter eligibility criteria for party membership and leadership, disqualifying individuals convicted under the International Crimes Tribunal Act or accused of severe human rights violations.

It also proposed full authority for the EC to recruit its officials, and postpone and cancel any elections or decide on any re-elections.

Making the executive branch of the government accountable to the EC during elections has also been proposed in a report which was handed over to interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus at its office in Dhaka on Wednesday.

The electoral reform commission chief, Badiul Alam Majumder, along with other members, submitted the report with recommendations.

‘Our proposals are mostly related to ensuring citizen’s voting rights, transparency in the electoral system and making all stakeholders accountable for holding inclusive elections,’ Badiul said at the report handover ceremony.

The commission recommended forming a special investigation commission to identify those who were responsible for the rigged national elections held in 2018.

The other recommendations included a proposal to ease requirements for new party registration by mandating offices in 10 per cent of districts and five per cent of upazilas, along with a minimum of 5,000 members.

The reform commission suggested publishing and annually updating party member lists online to ensure transparency.

The reform commission also proposed cancelling provisions for electronic voting machines, secret ballots in electing party committees at all levels and nominating parliamentary candidates through a panel system voted on by general members.

To increase financial accountability, the report recommended capping individual donations at Tk 50 lakh and requiring all donations be made via banks and declared in tax returns. Party funds would be subject to regular audits to promote transparency.

The other key recommendations included prohibiting political parties from having student, labour and other professional fronts, international branches and requiring members to serve for at least three years before being eligible for parliamentary nomination.

Additionally, party registrations must be renewed every five years, and the rule for cancelling registration for not participating in two consecutive elections should be repealed.

At a press conference on the report handover ceremony on Wednesday, law ministry adviser Asif Nazrul said that national elections could be held at the end of this year if political parties agreed to a minimal state reform, while a full-scale reform would allow the elections by mid-2026.​

 

[Saif]

Main goal is to ensure free, fair election: EC Sanaullah

Election Commissioner Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (retd) said that the primary objective of the current commission is to ensure a free, fair, and impartial national election. The commissioner said this while addressing the inauguration of a day-long workshop titled 'Challenges in the voter re

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Main goal is to ensure free, fair election: EC Sanaullah
Published :
Jan 16, 2025 21:04
Updated :
Jan 16, 2025 21:04

Election Commissioner Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (retd) said that the primary objective of the current commission is to ensure a free, fair, and impartial national election.

The commissioner said this while addressing the inauguration of a day-long workshop titled 'Challenges in the voter registration process and ways to overcome challenges' at the Khulna CSS Ava Center on Thursday.

He said the commission aims to create a comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date voter list, according to a UNB report.

The Election Commissioner said that the voter list should be updated not only from designated locations but also through door-to-door efforts to collect voter information.

“It is important to ensure that no one eligible to be a voter, especially women and the young generation, is left out of the list,” he added.

He said attempting to register as a voter in multiple locations by concealing information is a crime and in the age of information technology, such acts cannot go unnoticed.

EC Sanaullah said that the long struggle for democracy, the sacrifices made by people, and the new hope for change are all tied to regaining the right to vote.

“Voting is a fundamental right, and it is closely linked to social stability, harmony, development, and the survival of the nation with honour,” he said.

The commissioner further said organising elections is a huge task that requires the involvement of all, especially in these changing times, and must be carried out with accuracy and impartiality.

The workshop was chaired by Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Firoz Sarkar, with special guests including Additional Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat KM Ali Newaz, Khulna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam, Regional Election Officer Md Humayun Kabir, and CBTEP Project Director Muhammad Mustafa Hasan.​

 

[Saif]

Polls in 6 months unrealistic: Sarjis

Holding elections within the next six months is unrealistic, said Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of Jatiya Nagorik Committee, yesterday at an event in Panchagarh.

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Polls in 6 months unrealistic: Sarjis

Holding elections within the next six months is unrealistic, said Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of Jatiya Nagorik Committee, yesterday at an event in Panchagarh.

"Our demand should not be limited to holding an election after such a big uprising at the cost of so much blood, lives and everything," he said.

"It is simply impossible to update the voter list and reform the judicial system within the six months," he added. However, he said they will not disagree if the next general election is held within a logical time, reports BSS.

Sarjis said the interim government announced that the election would be held by mid-2026, "If they consider holding the election two to four months earlier [early 2026], it would be logical," he said.

Sarjis said the Election Commission, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies need to be reformed to ensure a transparent election.

"We believe that the elections we are hoping for will align with the people's expectations and aspirations, but only after the necessary reforms are implemented," he added.

Sarjis also said groups comprising citizens from every district and upazila will be formed across the country to prevent corruption and irregularities.

He said Rangpur division, including Panchagarh, has faced significant neglect in development over the past 16 years.

"The people of Panchagarh deserve what is rightfully theirs, and we will work to secure that," he said.​

 

[Saif]

UNDP interested in training election agents: EC secretary

The EC secretary met with a UNDP delegation led by UNDP resident representative Stefan Liller at the EC Secretariat

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UNDP interested in training election agents: EC secretary

FILE VISUAL: SALMAN SAKIB SHAHRYAR

The United Nations Development Programme wants to extend support in training the polling agents of all candidates, not political parties, ahead of the next general election, said Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed today.

"No training for parties. If we can work together [train] with the agents of the parties who will be at the polling stations, we will get better results. They [UN electoral need assessment team] have received such demand from the field," he said.

The EC secretary said this replying to a question from reporters after his meeting with a UNDP delegation led by UNDP resident representative Stefan Liller at the EC Secretariat in the capital's Agargaon area.

Akhtar said the UNDP team sat with the EC after 10 days to inform the electoral need assessment report.

"They came back today after 10 days and gave us feedback. They talked to various political parties and civil society. They saw the situation firsthand. Based on this, they decided to provide us with some assistance," he said.

The EC senior secretary said the UNDP will support the commission over some logistics such as cameras, computers, hardware; and training to develop skills of the officials and also stakeholders.

The UNDP wants to provide assistance over training of agents of all candidates, he added.

Following meetings with the election commissioners and EC officials on January 14, the UNDP started assessing the needs to provide assistance to the EC to hold the next parliamentary elections.

The need assessment was completed within 10 days following talks with the commission and other stakeholders, including civil society, academicians and political parties.

Earlier, the Election Commission sent the United Nations a letter requesting assistance before the UN could provide technical assistances to the commission.​

 

[Saif]

Prof Yunus stresses mechanism for free polls in Bangladesh

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has stressed the need for establishing a mechanism so that everyone in Bangladesh can vote freely and fairly, without any interruptions or threats.

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Prof Yunus stresses mechanism for free polls in Bangladesh
New Age Desk 24 January, 2025, 15:32

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus joined conversation with the founder of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab in Switzerland on Thursday. | BSS photo

CA returns home today

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has stressed the need for establishing a mechanism so that everyone in Bangladesh can vote freely and fairly, without any interruptions or threats.

He put the emphasis during a one-on-one conversation with the founder of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos of Switzerland on Thursday, said a Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha report.

Yunus is set to depart Davos for Dhaka Friday night (Switzerland time) via Zurich International Airport, concluding his busy four-day schedule at the WEF annual meeting, which included nearly 50 engagements, reported United News of Bangladesh.

Permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam would see him off at the Zurich International Airport. Yunus would reach Dhaka Saturday evening, the UNB report said.

According to the BSS report, while sharing the background stories of the July mass uprising with the global audience, the chief adviser said that the students took to the streets in Bangladesh in the July last year with a simple demand-equal opportunity for jobs.

He narrated how the students during their protest painted graffiti on the walls of Dhaka, expressing their desires and dreams.

Yunus said that all the young people who became voters over the last 16 years did not get a chance to vote, which was very unfortunate.

Presenting the reform agendas of the incumbent interim government, the 84-year-old economist and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner said that unless they knew what kind of election the country’s people wanted, they could not go into polls.

Mentioning that the government was waiting to hold an election, he said that the country’s people had to decide the process then – whether they would go for the short agenda or the long agenda.

The chief adviser said that they had targeted the end of 2025 for the election to take place if people went for a quick reform agenda.

‘If people say, no - we need a longer list of reforms; we need another six months,’ he said.

Terming the present generation as the most powerful generation in human history, the chief adviser said that it was the generation of world having a huge potential.

About the role of students, he stated that technology had transformed them; they were no longer just Bangladeshi youths but they had become part of a global generation.

‘We define that new Bangladesh and we are committed to creating that new Bangladesh,’ professor Yunus said.

The chief adviser said that demands from the movement reflected a desire to move beyond the old Bangladesh and work towards creating a new one.

He talked about a consensus commission to build national unity, and based on the consensus of all parties and civil society organisations, they would prepare the ‘July Charter’, a document named after the month of July when a mass uprising took place in Bangladesh.

Former US vice-president Al Gore, who has emerged as one of the world’s top climate change activists, praised the global ‘Three Zero’ movement launched by professor Yunus to combat carbon emissions, wealth concentration, poverty and unemployment while he met Yunus on the same day, said another BSS report.

During the meeting, he vowed to support Bangladesh’s reform programmes taken by the Yunus’s interim government, chief adviser’s deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told media.

They discussed the July uprising, climate change, mitigation of the adverse impacts of global warming, the reform initiatives undertaken by the Bangladesh interim government, and election and geopolitical issues.

The former US vice-president expressed his support for the Bangladesh’s reform programmes and fixing Bangladesh’s institutions and its democratic transition through a free and fair election.

Professor Yunus handed him a copy of ‘The Art of Triumph’, the celebrated art book on graffiti and wall paintings drawn during the July uprising.

Al Gore lauded the ‘amazing’ book and the revolutionary spirit of the Bangladeshi young people. ‘I looked at every page of the book,’ he said.

On Friday, American investor Ray Dalio, founder of Marino Management and Dalio Family Office, Amer Alireza, chairman of the executive committee, Xenel Group (Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company), met Yunus during the summit. They discussed areas of cooperation, according to BSS.

The chief adviser is scheduled to attend seven events on his final day of his visit to Switzerland on the day.​

 

[Saif]

National elections or local elections - which first?

Certain parties aspiring for power feel that the interim government wants to hold the local elections first so that they can stay in power for an extended period

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National elections or local elections - which first?

The mayors and chairmen have been removed. The people cannot avail basic services. If the national election takes place after a year or a year and a half, why should the people be deprived of these services for so long?
Mohiuddin Ahmad
Published: 24 Jan 2025, 15: 24

We are familiar with two types of government. One is the local government and the other is the national or central government. But in general we mean the latter when we refer to the government. Government implies people in Dhaka calling the shots. They are in charge of the secretariat, the parliament and the judiciary. And there is also the jail, the intelligence, the police and the military.

There are three tiers to the local government -- zila parishad at the district level, upazila parishad at the upazila level and union parishad at the union level. In the small towns there is the poursashava (municipality). In the larger cities there are the city corporations. These are ostensibly called government. In our country the local government runs at the behest of the central government. It is a sort of extension of the government, the central government's flunky at a local level. The government officials can dismiss the local government elected representative if they so desire.

All said and done, the local government does have importance. After all, it is at the doorstep of the citizens. Take the union parishad, for instance. If all goes well, the election to the union parishad is held after every five years. This has been in place since the days of the British rule. It was called union board at the time. During the Pakistan rule it was called union council. Its scope of work has increased, in the meantime and so has its expenditure and allocations. The head of the union board had been the president. During the British rule, president meant the president of the union or district board. Now the president means the head of state, sitting in Bangabhaban. At the local level the presidents are now chairmen.

There has been a lot of discussion and debate over which is to come first, reforms or elections. Added to this is the debate over whether national elections are to be held first, or local elections.

The civil society and politicians in this country have long been taking about empowerment of the local government. Self-rule is the basis of empowerment. For example, the union parishad is to be independent. It will earn revenue, draw up a budget, spend accordingly and provide services. That has not happened. Those who sit in the capital and rule, that an insatiable hunger. They want to keep the entire country within their grasp. They do not have the mentality to share power for delegate responsibility. The central government is sovereign. The local government is its subservient agent.

When there is a government in Dhaka, it does all its service-related work through the union parishad or the upazila parishad. If all this is in their control, they feel safe and sound in Dhaka. That is why whoever becomes a member of parliament, wants to see loyal persons of his liking in the local government. In that way he can establishment his ownership over services and resources at a local level.

The union parishad is the basis of a parliament member's power. The local leaders are the sources of the parliament member's muscle and money. During the parliamentary election, they ensure the votes. And by keeping up close ties with the national leaders, the local leaders keep themselves safe and also use this 'political patronage' in their own interests. This has been going on down the decades.

There was a time when the most educated, decent and well-bred person would be the local government leader. In many cases he would spend from his own picket for the people's welfare. Those sound like fairytales now. In most cases it is seen that the worse persons of the village is "elected". He manages this through muscle power and the patronage of the concerned leader.

The local government is considered to be the golden goose for the members of parliament. There are many politicians who cannot sleep at night, concerned about the welfare of the people. They keep this business running in their worldly interests.

Things turned topsy-turvy in the country in August last year. We think we have become independent anew and so things cannot carry on like before. But not everyone is thinking in this manner. Many are changing, while many remain just the same as before. There has been such an upheaval, so many people have died, but that makes no difference to them. One cannot vehemently say that there will be a qualitative change to the politics of power.

There has been a lot of discussion and debate over which is to come first, reforms or elections. Added to this is the debate over whether national elections are to be held first, or local elections. Those who hope to form the government through the national elections, want to see the national elections first. They want the local government elections under the elected government.

For example, the military backed 1/11 caretaker government wanted to hold the upazila election before the national election. The larger parties, BNP and Awami League in particular, were unwilling. And so whatever was to happen, happened.

The Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament) election was held in December 2008. Awami League formed the government in 2009 and called for the upazila election. The Awami League-backed candidates forcefully won in almost all the upazilas. The election commission watched helplessly. The head of the commission ATM Shamsul Huda remarked that fair elections were not possible under a partisan government.

During the rule of Sheikh Hasina, the provision was put in place to contest in the local government election under party symbol. Hasina's sycophants reasoned that, this system exists in so-and-so countries, so what not here? And so, the local government system was ruined by holding the local elections on a party basis. Politicisation seeped down to every hearth and home. Who will explain to that them politics and politicisation are not one and the same thing?

Politicians have come up with a new contention nowadays, that a process of depoliticisation has been put in place. What election can there be by leaving out political parties? They do not take into consideration that the local government is a government for all, above party interests, where everyone can have access to services, and so there is really no question about party power there. Party means cronies, oligarchy. They want their cronies on control everywhere.

A local government free of political influence is problematic for politicians. Given the way they plot and plan their power graph, they feel they will be in a problem without control on the local government. That is why they are vehemently against the union parishad or upazila parishad election being held before the parliamentary election. How will they be able to collect votes for the national election if the local elections are held first, they ponder. There is the matter of funds too.

Certain parties aspiring for power feel that the interim government wants to hold the local elections first so that they can stay in power for an extended period. This is a conspiracy. General Ayub Khan and General Ershad stayed in power for long in this manner. That, of course, is a matter of apprehension. The interim government needs to make it clear that they have no political ambitions. It must be seen that in holding the local government elections, focus must not be shifted away from the national election.

Hasina's plots and plans were all disrupted with the fall of her government. Many of those supported and patronised by her government have now fled. The mayors and chairmen have been removed. The people cannot avail basic services. If the national election takes place after a year or a year and a half, why should the people be deprived of these services for so long? In that sense, the local government polls should be held as soon as possible. These elections should be held within April or May this year. Then the monsoons will arrive. At the same time, a date for the parliamentary polls can be fixed too.

• Mohiuddin Ahmad is a writer and researcher
• This column appeared in the print and online edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten for the English edition by Ayesha Kabir