Reform commission to identify irregularities in previous 3 elections

The Election Reform Commission will investigate irregularities in the last three national elections held under the Awami League government, said commission head Badiul Alam Majumdar. 

During a press briefing in Agargaon today (14 October), following a meeting with the Election Commission secretary and other officials, Badiul Alam said, "We will identify the irregularities and discrepancies in these elections. If there are positive aspects, we will acknowledge those too. The electoral process is cyclical, and we aim to review this cycle, highlight the anomalies, and make recommendations."

When asked whether the commission would suggest taking action against individuals involved in irregularities, Badiul Alam said, "We will make recommendations, but it is premature to discuss details. We will also assess officials and the commission itself."

The reform commission is currently reviewing laws and regulations to gain a clear understanding of the issues.

"We are now going through the laws line by line, focusing particularly on the Representation of the People Order, which is the foundational law for national elections," Badiul Alam further said.

Other laws under review include those on delimitation, voter lists, and the Election Commission Secretariat, as well as local government election laws.  

To ensure public input, the commission is launching a website within a week to gather opinions, proposals, and recommendations.

"We will have a website, a Facebook page, and an email address to collect information from the public," Badiul Alam said, adding that the website will be a subdomain of the EC's website.

He also noted that election observer tasks and the law regarding the appointment of the commission are priorities in their review.

"When the government seeks it, we hope to present a draft," he concluded.