CA Yunus orders probe into roles of ex-CECs, ECs, officials in last three national elections

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has instructed officials concerned to immediately form a committee to investigate the roles played by former chief election commissioners, election commissioners, and secretaries of the Election Commission in organising the last three national elections in Bangladesh.

Yunus, also the head of the National Consensus Commission, issued the directive during a meeting of the commission held at the state guest house Jamuna today (16 June), the CA's Press Wing said in a statement. 

The meeting was attended by the commission's Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz, members Badiul Alam Majumdar, Iftekharuzzaman, Safar Raj Hossain, and Mohammad Ayub Miah. Also present were CA's Principal Secretary Siraj Uddin Miah and Special Assistant Monir Hayder.

During the meeting, commission members updated the chief advisor on the progress of the upcoming "July Charter".

Ali Riaz said, "Consensus has been reached on several key issues. We hope to finalise the charter soon through discussions with all political parties."

The chief advisor remarked, "The nation is eagerly awaiting the July Charter. I am optimistic we can present it to the public within July."

Reflecting on his recent trip to London, Yunus shared that members of the Bangladeshi community there were keenly interested in electoral reforms. 

"Wherever I went, expatriate Bangladeshis asked whether they would be able to vote in the next election," he said, emphasising the need to ensure voting rights for expatriates. 

He urged relevant authorities to explore options like postal ballots and engage in necessary consultations. 

At the meeting, Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Election Reform Commission, said, "There is unanimous political agreement that the role of officials in conducting the past three disputed elections must be thoroughly investigated and made accountable."