'Digital war,' institutional deficits pose major hurdles to credible polls: Experts

With Bangladesh just days away from a crucial general election, international experts, diplomats and political leaders have warned that the credibility of the polls faces unprecedented challenges – ranging from what they described as a growing "digital war" to a deep erosion of trust in state institutions.

The concerns were voiced today (3 February) at a roundtable discussion titled "Fundamentals of Credible Elections: Institutions, Trust and Political Participation", organised by the Dhaka Forum Initiative (DFI) at a city hotel.

Speakers stressed that credible elections require far more than logistical readiness, arguing that they depend on strong institutions, public trust, political tolerance and effective safeguards against digital manipulation.

Digital manipulation emerges as major threat

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the weaponisation of information in the digital age. 

Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, former chief election commissioner of Nepal, said election management bodies are now confronting challenges that go well beyond ballot security.

"The challenge is no longer just about ballot boxes; it is about the digital war," Thapaliya said, urging Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) to engage directly with global technology companies such as Meta and Google to counter hate speech and misinformation.

His warning was echoed by retired major general Fazle Elahi Akbar, who cautioned against what he termed a "cyber bombardment" of false and misleading information capable of influencing voters in key swing constituencies within days.

"The last seven days play a very critical role," he said, warning that targeted digital disinformation campaigns could decisively shape electoral outcomes.

Institutional weaknesses undermine credibility

Concerns over the capacity and independence of the Election Commission dominated much of the discussion. 

Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), described the current EC as "one of the weakest" Bangladesh has seen.

He cited allegations of national identity card (NID) fraud, claiming laminated NID cards were being collected from slum areas with the intention of vote manipulation. 

Hajjaj also criticised the EC's indication that it may take two to three days to announce election results.

"That makes no sense," he said. 

"Even in elections held decades ago, without modern technology, results reached Dhaka within 24 to 48 hours. In today's digital age, results should be announced within six to twelve hours. Saying it will take 48 to 72 hours is laughable."

Media personality Dr Abdun Noor Tushar criticised what he called the EC's reluctance to act decisively on issues such as dual citizenship and loan default among candidates.

"The EC has been very hesitant on dual citizenship and loan defaulters," he said, also questioning the credibility of the postal ballot system. 

He pointed to cases where candidates initially barred by the EC were later reinstated by court orders, only to find their names missing from postal ballots because votes had already been cast.

"So how will these postal ballots be counted?" Tushar asked, warning that such discrepancies could significantly affect results. He noted that in previous elections, many seats were decided by margins of just 1,600 to 5,000 votes.

Representing the National Citizen Party (NCP), Mohammad Alauddin said the crisis stems from the failure to build strong and functional state institutions.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury focused on the broader political culture, highlighting a climate of fear fuelled by violent rhetoric, including threats of physical harm by rival camps. 

Political culture and public trust at stake

While acknowledging that no election is entirely free of controversy, he stressed that outcomes must be acceptable to the public to restore democratic order and confidence.

In a video message from the United States, Shafquat Rabbee Anik, founder of The Centrist Nation, underscored the need for a cultural shift in how political defeat is handled.

"Bangladesh does not have a culture where the defeated party congratulates the winner," he said. "This must begin now to ensure peaceful transfers of power."

Diplomats from several countries reiterated their support for a credible and inclusive electoral process. 

Anna Peterson of the Australian High Commission said Australia has provided financial assistance for training polling officials, while Gerard Lyons of the British High Commission expressed hope that the election would help usher in a "new type of politics" in Bangladesh.

Addressing gender disparities, Jaharat Adib Chowdhury criticised political parties for relying heavily on women as grassroots campaigners while denying them leadership nominations. 

She called for a "zero-violence" environment to ensure women's meaningful participation in the electoral process.

The roundtable brought together diplomats, former election commissioners from Nepal and the Maldives, civil society representatives and leaders from multiple political parties. The discussion was moderated by DFI Chief Strategy Officer Ashfaq Zaman.