Election was neither free nor inclusive: TIB executive director
Violating election rules, candidates spent an average of Tk1.5 crore as polls’ expenses, a study by TIB said
The recently concluded 12th national election was neither free nor inclusive, according to Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
"The election was neither participatory nor free due to the inflexible and opposing positions of the two major parties over the caretaker government issue. This standoff centred around opposing agendas has deepened the hostage state of Bangladesh's democratic future," he said after unveiling a TIB study on the election process at the TIB office in the capital's Dhanmondi on Wednesday.
Iftekharuzzaman said, "The outcome of the election is ominous for the future of democracy, democratic elections in Bangladesh and is in conflict with the spirit of our Liberation War and the dreams arising out of independence."
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TIB conducted the study by gathering and analysing field-level data from June 2023 to January 2024. For this study, TIB chose 50 constituencies and gathered information on three primary contenders. The figures for poll expenses incurred by the candidates were determined through surveys of the contesting candidates and their agents.
"The outcome of the election is ominous for the future of democracy, democratic elections in Bangladesh and is in conflict with the spirit of our Liberation War and the dreams arising out of independence."
The study showed candidates contesting in the election spent Tk1.5 crore on average, with the Awami League candidates spending 11.45 times more than the Tk25 lakh limit set by the Election Commission (EC).
Regarding the election's credibility, Iftekharuzzaman said, "The one-sided election, conducted to maintain power, was completed without legal challenges. However, its success will forever be questioned over political integrity, democratic values, and ethical standards."
"The concept of democratic elections and the elements essential for national and international best practices, such as being free, participatory, impartial and ensuring a level-playing field, were not adhered to in the national election," he added.
Mentioning the lack of genuine competition, Iftekharuzzaman pointed out, "The 12th national election, without meaningful political opposition, saw staged battles among ruling party candidates, independent candidates from the same party, and government-backed candidates from other parties."
"These battles were marked by extensive code of conduct violations, unhealthy and violent competition, which were detached from any political ideals or public interest beyond the struggle for power," he said.
"The ruling party's internal conflicts were mapped out through widespread rigged competition in almost all constituencies, with the only positive outcome being the validation of previously denied allegations of irregularities, corruption, and illegality," added the TIB executive director.
Iftekharuzzaman expressed concern about the political landscape saying, "The election has solidified the ruling party's exclusive control over the political field and governance system, paving the way for unaccountable exercise of power."
"The growing dominance of business interests in parliament has elevated the risks of interest conflicts and policy capture in state affairs," he said.
The TIB study found that although the Awami League fielded independent candidates from its own party to make the polls look competitive and participatory, it did not work. The elections were not competitive in 241 constituencies.
About 15.43% of the votes were cast in the last hour of the polls, taking the total vote count to 41.8%, which sparked controversy, according to TIB.
Some 42 candidates from 13 constituencies boycotted the election, including five Jatiya Party and five independent candidates.
The TIB study also revealed that arsonists set fire to 21 polling centres in 14 districts on the night before the elections.
Violation of EC's polls expenses rule
Violating the rule set by the Election Commission, candidates who contested the election spent an average of Tk1.5 crore as polls' expenses, according to the TIB study.
This amount was six times more than the spending limit of Tk25 lakh set by the EC.
The study showed that 65.77% of candidates spent more than the prescribed expenditure limit.
Significant areas of expenditure for candidates included posters, election camps, public meetings and expenses for political activists.
Candidates from the AL spent the most on average. They spent 11.45 times more than the Tk25 lakh limit.
Moreover, the winning candidates spent an average of Tk3.09 crore, the highest being Tk38.77 crore and the lowest Tk16.45 lakh.
From the finalisation of nominations to the election, the average expenditure of 149 candidates was Tk1.02 crore, with the highest being Tk18.15 crore and the lowest being Tk44,800.
Overspending in the 11th national election was three times the set limit. The figure increased to six times in this election. ***
