No uncertainty over Feb polls, fair election depends on govt's will: Badiul
“The Election Commission alone cannot ensure a fair election without the government’s willingness,” he says
The upcoming national election must be held in February as announced, and there is no uncertainty about it, Electoral System Reform Commission head Badiul Alam Majumdar said today (16 August).
"The Election Commission alone cannot ensure a fair election without the government's willingness," he said while speaking at a shadow parliament, organised by Debate for Democracy at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in Dhaka.
The session, titled "The Role of the Election Commission is key to ensuring the next national polls are free and fair," was chaired by Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron.
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Badiul further said, "A level playing field will be maintained in the upcoming election, and if all sides act responsibly, people will cast their votes without hesitation. But if political parties engage in money games and muscle power, a credible election will not be possible."
He emphasised that beyond the EC, candidates, voters, civil society, and the media all have roles to play.
Regarding the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election, the economist said, "Partisan and subservient student politics is unacceptable, and students cannot become enforcers for political parties. Ducsu election results can influence the national polls."
Badiul, also a National Consensus Commission member, pointed out that both seat-based and proportional representation (PR) systems have limitations. "Discussions are ongoing about forming the lower house through seat-based polls and the upper house through PR."
Speaking at the event, Kiron said, "Major political parties are yet to reach a consensus on several crucial issues. With the July charter still unresolved and disputes over the election system persisting."
He warned that if polls cannot be held within the announced timeframe, the country may face a severe crisis.
At the shadow parliament, debaters from Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) emerged victorious, defeating Sir Salimullah Medical College.
