Awami League members, supporters cast votes despite party's call to resist election: TIB
The report further stated that around 99% of candidates who took part in the election violated the electoral code of conduct in one way or another.
Despite an official party directive to resist the 13th national election, a section of leaders, activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Awami League took part in the voting process as voters, according to a report by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
The findings were disclosed today (16 February) at a press conference held at the MIDAS Center in Dhanmondi, where TIB unveiled its report titled "Observation on the 13th National Parliamentary Election Process and Affidavit-based Review."
According to the report, TIB observed 70 constituencies selected through a representative sampling method from all 300 parliamentary seats to track the election process.
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The watchdog noted that although the interim government suspended the registration of the Awami League and banned its activities, including those of its student wing, the party maintained a firm stance against the election. It declared the July Uprising and the interim government illegitimate and conspiratorial, and institutionally called for resisting the polls, TIB mentioned.
The report mentioned that the Awami League officially termed the election and its environment as illegitimate and urged resistance, while also playing a negative and active role in the electoral landscape.
However, in contrast to the party's institutional position, a segment of its grassroots leaders and supporters participated in the election as voters. TIB noted that while some may have boycotted the polls, the same could be said of general voters as well.
The report further stated that political parties and candidates contesting the election competed to attract the Awami League's voter base. These included the BNP, Jamaat alliance, the Jatiyo Party, and other parties and candidates. Many Awami League leaders and activists reportedly responded by joining some of the contesting parties and taking part in campaign activities.
As a result, while the Awami League formally opposed the election as a party, its leaders, activists and supporters informally exercised their political rights, including voting.
TIB concluded that the party had both direct and indirect involvement in these developments.
Irregularities
The report further stated that around 99% of candidates who took part in the election violated the electoral code of conduct in one way or another.
Identified irregularities included the use of campaign materials without the required information about the printing press, processions on vehicles, torch marches and showdowns, and submitting nomination papers taking along more than five supporters.
Incidents of tearing down or damaging posters, banners, and festoons of rival candidates were also observed.
According to observations by TIB, violations by party-affiliated candidates were significant across 58 different provisions of the code of conduct. Such tendencies were found among candidates from the BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party, Jatiyo Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, as well as independent contenders, the report said.
