[🇧🇩] Forming Election Commission/Conducting Elections

[Saif]

Politicians must be open to accepting electoral defeats

Discard the mindset that ‘the election is only fair if I win’

www.thedailystar.net

Politicians must be open to accepting electoral defeats

Discard the mindset that ‘the election is only fair if I win’

VISUAL: BIPLOB CHAKROBORTY

Three things mark the distinctiveness of the upcoming national election: the resurgence of Jamaat-e-Islami, the rise of Tarique Rahman as a central personality of present-day politics, and something that was unthinkable before August 2024—the sidelining of Awami League from the present election.

Ever since its role in our Liberation War, in which it opposed the birth of Bangladesh and assisted the Pakistan Army in committing genocide and al Badr and al Shams in killing our intellectuals, Jamaat’s presence in the country’s politics has been a deeply controversial matter. The fact that it never apologised for its role and never sought forgiveness from the people of Bangladesh remains something that made its acceptability nearly impossible. Its latest position, as expressed by its chief, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, is that “if we have committed any mistake since 1947 (the year of birth of Pakistan, which Jamaat, led by its founder Abul A’la Maududi, had opposed) till date, we apologise for it.” The party’s refusal to refer to the events of 1971 and apologise for opposing our independence struggle and acting against the ordinary and freedom-loving people remains most tragic.

However, in spite of its past, Jamaat today is a significant presence in the upcoming election. Opinion polls show that it is likely to emerge as the second biggest party in the next parliament. How did it navigate through such a shameful legacy and emerge with such a strength?

The most important reason is its use of the rising consciousness of Muslim identity among the majority of Bangladeshis, and Jamaat positioning itself to be the most authentic representative of that. The utter failure of the two centrist parties—Awami League (AL) in particular and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to some extent—to make a deep, lasting impact of nationalistic and secular politics in voters’ minds created the space for Jamaat’s resurgence. Together, these two parties were in power since 1991, and their performance only distanced the people from them. The corrupt, exploitative, and oppressive role of the Awami League during its 15-plus years of rule that ended in August 2024—a party whose legitimacy and appeal centred around its role in 1971—greatly opened up further space for Jamaat to strengthen its position in our politics.

Jamaat’s ideological consistency in the use of religion, its organisational ability, and the commitment of its grassroots workers have contributed immensely to its present strength. The way its student activists penetrated Chhatra League over the years, and assumed its second-tier leadership roles in some cases, shows the effectiveness of the party’s long-term planning and organisational ability. Shibir’s (Jamaat’s student wing) victory in the student union elections at five public universities that took place recently is evidence of how successful their efforts have been. It is also reported that Jamaat’s grassroots female members have been quite active and effective in their home-to-home campaigning for the party.

In this connection, Jamaat’s electoral ally National Citizen Party (NCP) also deserves a mention. A party that emerged from the July uprising, NCP entered electoral politics with huge expectations but then found itself aligning with the Jamaat-led bloc in a decision that could be consequential for the party’s future, both immediate and distant.

The second unique aspect of this election is the rise of Tarique Rahman. He was the heir apparent from the start, but his phenomenal rise is something quite stunning. The way he kept his party operational from London for so many years while his mother was incarcerated speaks volumes of his ability to use modern communication facilities to keep a political party motivated and, more importantly, disciplined. He was well-known for his connection with local-level leadership through mobile and internet, which young BNP activists at the district and upazila levels found to be a matter of pride. Numerous attempts by the AL to split the party or to lure some important leaders away from it were thwarted by Tarique Rahman’s direct communication and persuasive abilities. Fifteen years is a long period in any country’s politics, especially Bangladesh, and the fact that BNP was kept primarily intact (despite being relentlessly suppressed by the AL government) testifies to his organising capacity.

Many felt that he took too long to return to Bangladesh after the fall of the Awami League government, and that BNP would have been greatly strengthened if he had been here much earlier. Late as he might have come, his return electrified the party, energised the workers, and brought in a new confidence that was absent earlier. Warm acceptance by the public and the overall support exhibited by the huge gatherings in all his public appearances have made him a central factor in Bangladesh’s current electoral politics. So far, he has conducted himself with dignity and maturity. His speeches have been restrained and future-oriented. His detailed enunciation of what he plans to do if elected to power contrasts well with the rhetorical speeches of others. Whether he has been able to organise his party well to campaign effectively or not will be clear after the polls. But so far, he has successfully filled in the shoes of his late mother, whose janaza stood out as the most striking evidence of the love and respect she enjoyed and the sympathy that he has the possibility of inheriting.

The third feature of the upcoming election is the prevention of Awami League from participating in it. The party has not been banned, but its activities are. How could a party that has played such an important role in the birth of Bangladesh and has been a part of it for the last 55 years become so vulnerable as to be sidelined in such a crucial political event as an election?

Awami League’s present debacle has many contributing factors, including extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances, but mainly owes to its brutal killings in the streets of Dhaka and the rest of the country during the last six weeks of its rule. One incident illustrates it all. How could a young university student like Abu Sayed, completely unarmed, standing alone on a street away from other protesters, without posing any threat to anybody, let alone the police who were standing far away, be shot to death? Sheikh Hasina and her government lost everything—the people, credibility, and acceptability—and revealed the mindset of a vicious oppressor. This was further proven by the fact that instead of expressing regret and taking action against the perpetrators, the government fiddled, more than once, with the autopsy report and tried to justify its actions. Then followed the weeks of the killing of demonstrators, which created the ground for banning AL’s activities.

Which party AL voters will tilt towards on February 12 will perhaps have a decisive impact on the outcome of the polls.

There is, of course, an additional feature of this election: the eclipsing of Jatiya Party, which dominated politics under Gen HM Ershad up to 1990, and had the third place in all the elections since then.

Elections are always central to a country’s democratic march forward. But this year, the polls are far more crucial because Bangladesh urgently needs to restart its journey of stability, predictability, ending mobocracy, getting the direly needed investment, and public safety and security. All of these are expected to start with the installation of an elected parliament, accountable government, competent policymakers, and clarity of a vision as to where we are going.

We conclude with a warning drawn from history: that while we are highly enthusiastic about elections, we are terribly reluctant about accepting their results when we lose. The losers are of two categories: individuals who fail to win, and the party that fails to win enough parliamentary seats to form the next government. It is the last category that usually questions the polls and destabilises the transition. We have seen it in all past elections, even under the caretaker system. As we summarised the tendency in a previous article, an election is only free and fair if we win but rigged if we lose! This tendency is something we must move away from. It is our ardent hope and genuine expectation that the result will be accepted with grace and dignity. If there are fact-based grounds for questioning, do so as per the rules laid down by the Election Commission. Do not create unnecessary chaos and disruptions. The country needs to move on urgently and peacefully.

Here’s to a free, fair, and peaceful election.

Mahfuz Anam is the editor and publisher of The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

Security, voter participation, level playing field: EU's 3 areas of focus in election

The European Union (EU) said it will focus on three key areas while observing Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election. EU election observation mission chief and European Parliament member Ivars Ijabs told journalists at a roundtable meeting at Sylhet District Press Club on Friday t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Security, voter participation, level playing field: EU's 3 areas of focus in election

UNB
Published :
Feb 07, 2026 00:02
Updated :
Feb 07, 2026 00:02

The European Union (EU) said it will focus on three key areas while observing Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election.

EU election observation mission chief and European Parliament member Ivars Ijabs told journalists at a roundtable meeting at Sylhet District Press Club on Friday that the mission will pay special attention to security, voter participation, and a level playing field for candidates.

He said the EU sees this election as an important step in Bangladesh’s history.

At the roundtable meeting, chaired by Sylhet District Press Club president Moin Uddin and moderated by general secretary Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Ivars Ijabs said, “We are here to strengthen our political, economic, social, and cultural ties with your beautiful country. In this context, our election observation mission is an important step, and we see this election as a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s history.”

He also said, “Our mission follows an internationally recognized method, where our role is only to observe and not to take part in the political process. Because the election is very close, I will not comment on any party’s rule violations or other issues.”

Ivars Ijabs added, “We will submit our preliminary report in Dhaka on February 14, immediately after the election, and the full report will be presented two months later.”

He said, “The mission officially began one month ago, and our long-term observation team (LTO) has already been monitoring election preparations in Dhaka and other areas.”

He added, “Our observers are engaging with local stakeholders, including the election commission, government authorities, candidates, domestic observers, and various NGOs as key partners.”

About additional observers from Europe, he said, “Our colleagues Bambi and Christian have been working here for a month, and tomorrow 90 more short-term observers from Europe will join. They will monitor campaigning and vote counting during the final days of the election. This is not only an EU mission; three important partner countries - Switzerland, Norway, and Canada - are also participating.”

He said the observers will be spread across different constituencies, cities, and villages in the country.

Highlighting the three main areas of focus, he said, “Our observation will focus on three key aspects: how safely and securely citizens can take part in the election, the inclusion of all citizens including women and minority groups, and ensuring equal opportunities for candidates.”

Ivars Ijabs also said, “Our core team in Dhaka includes experts such as legal specialists, election analysts, and media analysts. They are monitoring both traditional and social media.” He emphasized that they are not intervening in the process or giving advice to anyone.

He explained that organizing elections is primarily the responsibility of Bangladesh’s citizens, and there is no room for outside interference.

The EU parliament member added, “We want to maintain a long-term relationship with Bangladesh. In today’s changing world, one of the EU’s priorities is to find democratic and reliable partners globally.”

Speaking about trade, he said, “We want to expand trade relations with Bangladesh and invest in green energy and climate change initiatives. Democratic processes are very important in this partnership.”​

 

[Saif]

Election-centric festivity and fear

After a decade and a half, the country is witnessing a positive atmosphere ahead of national elections and citizens have developed a feeling that they will have full freedom to elect their representatives. The candidates contesting in the 13th general elections are putting in their best effort to r

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Election-centric festivity and fear

Tanim Asjad
Published :
Feb 06, 2026 21:48
Updated :
Feb 06, 2026 21:48

After a decade and a half, the country is witnessing a positive atmosphere ahead of national elections and citizens have developed a feeling that they will have full freedom to elect their representatives. The candidates contesting in the 13th general elections are putting in their best effort to reach the voters. The election campaign has already reached its peak, as the leading parties are engaged in verbal battles and, in a few places, the battle turns physical. Besides promising various packages to allure voters, allegations and counter-allegations aimed at undermining rivals have gained momentum. Overall, there is a festive mood in the air. However, there are also worries.

Since the resumption of democratic processes in 1991, eight national elections have been held in the country. Despite some violence and conflict, the general elections in 1991, 1996 (two polls held within 100 days after formation of caretaker governments), 2001, and 2008 were mostly participatory and peaceful. Voters were able to seal the ballot papers without any restrictions in most of the cases to choose their desired lawmakers. Contesting candidates were able to campaign mostly without any major obstacle or intimidation.

The situation changed in 2014 during the 10th general election when the BNP-led grand alliance boycotted the polls. With official voter turnout recorded at 40 per cent and the incumbent Awami League (AL) winning a two-third majority, the election was highly disputed. AL, having two-third majority in parliament, amended the constitution to scrap the caretaker system of government in 2011. The move was engineered by a Supreme Court Appellate Division verdict in the same year, opening the legal path to hold Jatiya Sangsad polls under the ruling political government. Due to controversy, protests, and violence, most voters did not have a favourable environment to go to the polling booths.

The situation deteriorated further during the 11th national elections in 2018, and the poll day was marked with massive irregularities and rigging. The Hasina-led Awami League government ensured its two-thirds majority by stuffing ballot boxes the night before election. Local administration and police worked in favour of the Hasina regime, depriving millions of citizens of exercising their legitimate rights. The voter turnout was recorded at 80 per cent, turning the whole thing into a mockery. Finally, the 12th national elections in 2024 were nothing but replication of the immediate past two elections, and Hasina was re-elected as the prime minister for a fourth term at a stretch, ditching the people's voting rights and distorting democratic institutions.

During the 15 years of Hasina regime, backed by India, there was no room for inclusiveness in elections. Goons and miscreants of Awami League took control of most of the polling booths across the country on the election days and compelled voters to cast their vote in favour of the party. Supporters of the opposition, especially the BNP, were systematically intimidated before the polls. Ordinary voters made subservient to a tyrant and her cronies, and their legitimate rights were scrapped. Only the fawners of the tyrant did not find anything wrong.

Nevertheless, the student-led July mass uprising threw out the repressive regime of Hasina, creating an opportunity for the citizens to vote freely. The ongoing preparations of the 13th national elections, scheduled to be held on February 12, coupled with physical and virtual campaigning by the parties has created a festive mood across the country. Except for supporters and activists of the ousted regime, everyone hopes the polling day will be mostly peaceful and festive, though there are signs of apprehension for trouble and violence. For instance, in some areas, some candidates and their supporters have allegedly terrorised voters, especially those belonging to minority communities. The beneficiaries, extortionists and flatterers of Hasina are spreading misinformation, disinformation, mostly from abroad, to make the election controversial. To them, there is no festivity and inclusiveness in the country although realities on the ground say otherwise. Voters, especially new ones and youths, are quite enthusiastic about voting in favour of the candidates of their choice.​

 

[Saif]

Govt says so-called PASHA election observers not to get EC cards

The Election Commission (EC) has postponed its decision to issue more than 10,000 election observer cards to the so-called non-governmental organisation People’s Association for Social Advancement (PASHA) for the national election. Briefing reporters after a high-level meeting at the state g

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Govt says so-called PASHA election observers not to get EC cards

Published :
Feb 07, 2026 22:12
Updated :
Feb 07, 2026 22:12

The Election Commission (EC) has postponed its decision to issue more than 10,000 election observer cards to the so-called non-governmental organisation People’s Association for Social Advancement (PASHA) for the national election.

Briefing reporters after a high-level meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Saturday night, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said an NGO named PASHA had applied to appoint 10,000 election observers, UNB reports.

“The Election Commission conducted an inquiry into the organisation. After the inquiry, the EC was not convinced of PASHA’s capacity. As a result, the distribution of election observation cards to the organisation has been postponed,” Azad said, quoting EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Azad made the remarks at a press conference held in front of the state guesthouse Jamuna after the meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also briefed reporters on the overall outcomes of the meeting, which focused on election preparations.

Azad said no political involvement has been identified in PASHA’s case so far, but investigations are still ongoing.

At the beginning of the meeting, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus said the main challenge is to ensure a “perfect” voting process and described the coming week as very crucial.

An investigative report titled ‘One-person-based PASHA giving 10,000 election observers’ was published in Prothom Alo on Friday.

The report revealed that the organisation is run by a single individual who has converted a room in his house into PASHA’s office.​

 

[Saif]

Voters can find polling station information in four ways

Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has introduced four simple methods for voters to obtain their voter number and polling station information to facilitate voting in the February 12 national elections and referendum. Using these methods, voters can quickly and accurately find their voter number a

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Voters can find polling station information in four ways

BSS
Published :
Feb 07, 2026 21:18
Updated :
Feb 07, 2026 21:18

Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has introduced four simple methods for voters to obtain their voter number and polling station information to facilitate voting in the February 12 national elections and referendum.

Using these methods, voters can quickly and accurately find their voter number and details of their polling station, said an official handout.

Method 1: Smart Election Management BD App

Voters can obtain their voter number and polling station information through the Smart Election Management BD app. after downloading from the Play Store or App Store. After installation, they should select “Find Polling Station” option. By entering their NID number and date of birth and then searching, the app will display the voter number, serial number in the voter list, polling station name, and polling station address.

Method 2: Hotline Number 105

Any voter in Bangladesh can call the hotline number 105 to obtain their voter number and polling station information. After calling 105, voters need to press 9 to speak with an operator. For this service, voters must provide their NID number and date of birth, so they should keep this information ready while calling. The service will be available daily from 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight every day.

Method 3: Via SMS to 105

To get voter number and polling station information via SMS, voters should go to the message option on their mobile phone and send an SMS by typing PC [space] NID and send it to 105. The voter number and polling station details will be sent back via return SMS.

Method 4: Through the Election Commission Website

Voters can also obtain their voter number and polling station information through the Election Commission’s website. To do this, they need to visit ecs.gov.bd portal using any browser.​

 

[Saif]

Electioneering in JS polls to end Tuesday

Campaigning by candidates contesting the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections and the referendum, scheduled for February 12, will officially end on Tuesday at 7:30 am. The electioneering period, which began on January 22, concludes 48 hours before polling day, in line with the rules of the Election

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Electioneering in JS polls to end Tuesday

BSS
Published :
Feb 09, 2026 14:20
Updated :
Feb 09, 2026 14:20

Campaigning by candidates contesting the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections and the referendum, scheduled for February 12, will officially end on Tuesday at 7:30 am.

The electioneering period, which began on January 22, concludes 48 hours before polling day, in line with the rules of the Election Commission (EC).

Under Section 18 of the Political Parties and Candidates Code of Conduct 2025, no registered political party, nominated candidate, independent contender, or their representatives may start campaigning earlier than three weeks before the scheduled vote, and all activities must cease 48 hours before balloting.

In this regard, EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated that election campaigning by political parties will cease at 7:30 a.m. on February 10, 48 hours prior to voting.

Voting in the election and referendum will take place simultaneously across 299 parliamentary constituencies nationwide from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm through ballot papers using transparent ballot boxes.

Recently, the Election Commission cancelled the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election in Sherpur-3 constituency following the death of a Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate.
A total of 51 political parties are participating in the elections with 2,034 candidates in total, including 275 independent candidates.

Among the political parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has fielded the highest number of candidates with 291 contenders contesting with the sheaf of paddy symbol. Islami Andolan Bangladesh has fielded the second-highest number of 258 candidates with the Hatpakha (hand fan) symbol, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has fielded 229 candidates with the Daripalla (scale) symbol.

Jatiya Party has nominated 198 candidates with the plough symbol. On the other hand, Jatiya Nagarik Party (NCP) has fielded 32 candidates with the water lily bud symbol. Among the independent candidates, 76 are contesting with the football symbol.​

 

[Saif]

BNP-led alliance likely to get 208 seats, Jamaat-led alliance 46

The survey, conducted among 41,500 respondents nationwide, estimates that the BNP-led alliance could win about 208 seats in the election.

en.prothomalo.com

EASD survey
BNP-led alliance likely to get 208 seats, Jamaat-led alliance 46
Staff CorrespondentDhaka
Published: 09 Feb 2026, 19: 32

Shamim Haider Talukdar, chief executive officer of Eminence Associates for Social Development, presents the survey results on 13th national election at the Krishibid Institution in Dhaka on 9 February 2026. Asif Howlader

With Bangladesh heading toward its 13th national parliamentary election, a new public opinion survey released by Eminence Associates for Social Development (EASD) projects a clear lead for the BNP-led alliance.

The survey, conducted among 41,500 respondents nationwide, estimates that the BNP-led alliance could win about 208 seats in the election.

According to the findings, the Jamaat-e-Islami–led alliance is projected to secure 46 seats, while the Jatiya Party may win three seats. Other political parties are expected to secure four seats, and independent candidates could win 17 seats, the survey said.

The survey results were unveiled on Monday afternoon at the 3D Seminar Hall of the Krishibid Institution in the capital. EASD claimed that among all surveys conducted so far regarding the upcoming election, this one has the largest sample size.

EASD chief executive officer Shamim Haider Talukdar presented the survey findings.

He said the survey was conducted across all 300 parliamentary constituencies using the Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) method. Data from a total of 41,500 respondents were collected through the digital platform Kobo Toolbox. From 18 January to 31 January, 150 trained data collectors worked in the field. To reflect the country’s diverse demographic and regional perspectives, a total of 2,766 PSUs nationwide were included.

From each PSU, 15 households were selected sequentially, and one eligible respondent from each household was interviewed to ensure systematic and unbiased data collection. Unions were considered clusters for rural areas and wards for urban areas, ensuring equal representation of both rural and urban populations, he added.

He further stated that among the 41,500 respondents, 26,560 were men (64 per cent) and 14,922 were women (36 per cent). Youth aged 18–30 accounted for 37.2 per cent of respondents. Among participants, 45.2 per cent were aged 31–50, including 27.5 per cent aged 31–40 and 17.7 per cent aged 41–50.

The largest occupational group among respondents was businesspeople, accounting for 21.9 per cent. Of them, 5 per cent were large and medium business owners, while 16.9 per cent were small business owners. Participants from the agriculture and rural labour sectors made up 13.2 per cent. Meanwhile, those engaged in household and informal sectors accounted for 19.1 per cent, and students comprised 14.5 per cent of respondents.

Findings

According to the EASD survey, the majority of voters in Bangladesh prefer the BNP in terms of political choice. As many as 66.3 per cent of voters expressed their intention to vote for the BNP. Jamaat-e-Islami ranked second with 11.9 per cent support. The NCP received 1.7 per cent support, while among others, the Jatiya Party secured 4 per cent and independent candidates 2.6 per cent.

The survey results noted that the BNP enjoys greater popularity among female voters, with 71.1 per cent of women expressing support for the party. The BNP-led alliance received its highest support in Chattogram (76.8 per cent) and Sylhet (75.6 per cent). However, the Jamaat-led alliance showed strong positions in Barishal (17.8 per cent) and Khulna (18.6 per cent). In Rangpur in the northern region, the Jatiya Party received support from 3 per cent of voters.

Shamim Haider Talukdar said that 66.4 per cent of respondents believe the BNP-led alliance will be able to form the next government after the election, and 66.3 per cent believe BNP candidates will win in their respective constituencies. Overall, the survey strongly reflects the political aspirations of the general public and expectations for major change centred on the BNP.

The survey also revealed that a significant portion of voters who previously voted for the Awami League are now in favour of change. Shamim Haider Talukdar said that 80 per cent of former Awami League voters expressed interest in voting for the BNP in the upcoming election. At the same time, 15 per cent of former Awami League voters said they would support Jamaat-e-Islami, while the remaining 5 per cent expressed support for other political parties.

According to the survey results, the BNP-led alliance is likely to secure the highest number of seats in the upcoming election, winning approximately 208 seats. The Jamaat-led alliance may win 46 seats, while the Jatiya Party may secure 3 seats, other parties 4 seats, and independent candidates 17 seats. Additionally, 22 constituencies are expected to witness closely contested races.

Regarding preferences for the next prime minister, 68 per cent of respondents expressed support for BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman. Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman received support from 14 per cent, while NCP Convener Nahid Islam received support from 2 per cent. Meanwhile, 16 per cent of respondents said they were unwilling to express an opinion on this matter.

The survey release event was chaired by EASD Adviser Kazi Saifuddin Bennur. Following the presentation, a panel discussion was held with participation from Professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir of the Department of Development Studies at Dhaka University; ASM Amanullah, Vice-Chancellor of the National University; Shamsul Alam Selim, Chairman of the Department of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University; Professor Nahreen I Khan of the Department of Geography and Environment at Jahangirnagar University; Associate Professor Toufiq Jouarder from the National University of Singapore; and Mir Nadia Nivin, former member of the Election System Reform Commission.​