Reshuffle field administration for neutrality, control during polls: Experts

Election experts and former Election Commission (EC) officials have advised the commission to swiftly bring field administration and law enforcement under its control and ensure neutrality in the recruitment of election personnel to guarantee equal opportunities for all candidates in the upcoming polls.

The recommendations came yesterday during a discussion at the EC Bhaban, where the commission exchanged views with former officials now serving as election experts. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, four election commissioners, and senior officials attended the session.

Former acting EC secretary Md Zakaria said the commission alone cannot manage the entire electoral process. "The EC has only about 2,500 officials, while an election requires nearly one million personnel. All categories of officers and employees are engaged in election duties, so caution must be exercised in their selection."

He added, "Neutrality must be ensured in recruitment. Some institutions are entirely partisan — for instance, officials from Islami Bank or similar organisations were not recruited before, and this time, too, caution must be taken. Those involved in the last three elections should be avoided to prevent unnecessary controversy."

Zakaria, who served at the EC until 2007 and is currently part of a technical committee, also recommended recovering illegal arms, preventing fake currency, tackling cross-border arms inflow, prosecuting offenders, and curbing black money use in elections.

He further said, "Both the government and EC must take visible steps to ensure neutrality. The field and civil administration should be depoliticised, and the EC should ask the government to act accordingly."

Referring to 2001, he recalled, "After the caretaker government took charge, many officials from secretary to officer-in-charge level were transferred within hours, which helped build public trust in neutrality. A similar limited reshuffle should happen this time."

He also urged the EC to stay alert to major stakeholders' influence in the poll schedule, citing the 2014 election when the commission did not allow changes to the timetable.

Zakaria suggested empowering election officials with magistracy authority, conducting campaigns to raise public awareness, and forming local monitoring or protection committees with neutral individuals under law enforcement supervision.

Former joint secretary Khandaker Mizanur Rahman, who worked with 11 commissions during his 33-year service, said, "This EC is making sincere efforts. Their initiative to make postal ballots functional for expatriates for the first time is commendable and could be a landmark move."

He proposed appointing multiple returning officers in each district and extending the election schedule. "In the past, the EC declared 45-day schedules. Extending the duration will help with ballot printing and distribution for postal ballots," he said.

He also suggested that election officials provide photo-based voter lists to agents and observers.

Former EC official Md Nuruzzaman Talukder said returning officer duties should be assigned to EC's own officers for direct control and better management. "The EC, returning officers, and presiding officers bear the main responsibility for the election, while the civil administration provides support. With competent EC officials, elections can be organised smoothly," he added.

Former deputy secretary Mihir Sarwar Morshed recalled challenges with postal ballots in 2007 and cautioned, "If polling officers do not cooperate, complications will arise — as seen during the 1996 and 2006 elections. Postal ballots could become a flashpoint in the next polls."

He recommended vigilance in recruiting polling officers, avoiding officials from politically linked banks such as Islami Bank, and being cautious about partisan allegations against Ansar members.

Morshed also proposed granting magistracy powers to election officials for taking instant action on polling day and keeping journalists at least 400 yards away from polling centres during vote counting to prevent crowding.

Former regional election officer Md Shah Alam said, "The upcoming election will be a major challenge. The EC must strictly enforce the law, control political parties, and begin implementing the code of conduct at least a month before schedule announcement."

Mir Mohammad Shahjahan, another former official, said, "We conducted elections under caretaker governments where the field and police administration did not violate rules. The EC should fear nothing; free and fair elections are possible."

Misbah Uddin Ahmed added, "The EC is doing well, but people still lack confidence because of the last three elections. The current commission must work to regain public trust."

Md Shahedun Nabi Chowdhury suggested using automatic rubber stamps for faster and cleaner vote marking.

Mahfuza Akhter urged early preparations to ensure compliance with election laws and a peaceful environment. "Issuing circulars is not enough; EC officials must also be given proper authority," she said.

In his closing remarks, CEC AMM Nasir Uddin said, "The advice from former officers provides valuable insight. We are considering recruiting polling officers from banks outside the government structure, but we have received complaints about bank officials — these will be addressed."

He assured that recruitment would avoid partisan individuals. "Only Allah knows what lies in someone's heart. We can't know inner biases, but we'll ensure no one behaves like a political servant. Personal beliefs must not affect official duties."

The CEC warned of strict action if any official acts with partisan intent. "Our message is clear: conducting elections is not only the EC's duty — it's a national duty. We will take every necessary step to ensure no one displays partisan behaviour."