EC seeks 2013-24 financial info of Janipop, other election observers
The commission, on 17 September, wrote to Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, seeking bank account statements of these organisations covering 2013 to 2024.
Highlights
- Financial records sought from three monitoring organisations.
- Letter sent to Bangladesh Bank governor on 17 September
- BFIU provided Saarc Human Rights records.
- Janipop, Election Forum financial info remain unsubmitted
- Commission urges central bank to submit by 12 October
- Commission to examine reports on observers, media complaints.
- Janipop chairman Kalimullah jailed in graft case.
- Janipop deemed all elections free, fair.
The commission tasked with probing irregularities in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 national elections has requested financial records from three key organisations that monitored these polls: The Jatiya Nirbachon Parjobekkhon Parishad (Janipop), the Saarc Human Rights Foundation, and the Election Monitoring Forum.
The commission, on 17 September, wrote to Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, seeking bank account statements of these organisations covering 2013 to 2024.
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Following this request, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) provided the account information of the Saarc Human Rights Foundation. However, records from Janipop and the Election Monitoring Forum were not submitted.
Consequently, on 6 October, the commission sent another letter urging the central bank to provide the financial details of the remaining two organisations by 12 October.
Earlier on 26 June, the interim government formed a five-member commission to investigate allegations of corruption, irregularities in the aforesaid elections. The committee is chaired by retired High Court judge Shamim Hasnain and is also responsible for recommending measures to ensure free and fair elections in the future.
According to its formation notification, the commission will examine reports from domestic and international election observers, oversight institutions, civil society organisations, and complaints published in the media concerning the aforesaid elections.
Janipop chairman in jail in graft case
Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of the Janipop, has been in prison since 7 August following his arrest in an Anti-Corruption Commission case.
Kalimullah, who also served as vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, led Janipop during the monitoring of national elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024. Janipop had described all three elections as free, fair, and participatory.
Alongside Janipop, the Saarc Human Rights Foundation and the Election Monitoring Forum participated in election observation, generating significant debate over their activities.
Both organisations reportedly involved foreign nationals as election observers, sparking questions about whether these individuals had prior experience in election monitoring.
A figure named Mohammad Abed Ali was linked to both organisations, presenting himself as secretary-general of the Saarc Human Rights Foundation and chairman of the Election Monitoring Forum.
Former Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder, in his book "Nirbachon Nama: My Days at the Election Commission", referred to these two organisations as 'shell' entities, further intensifying scrutiny over their role in election observation.
