Election Commissioner (EC) Abdur Rahmanel Masud stated emphatically, "I cannot even imagine the idea of night-time voting. No voting will take place at night."
He was sharing views with journalists at his office in the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, the capital.
He further explained that with everyone’s cooperation, the Election Commission would be able to deliver a fair election.
He emphasized their commitment to organizing free, transparent, and impartial elections, adding that the promise he made today would find proof if he remains alive to see the election through.
Voters have a clear expectation: elections must be held on time and in a proper manner. If the authorities fail to organize a fair election and voters cannot exercise their right to vote, any election—regardless of when it is held—is bound to face skepticism and questions.
To address this, comprehensive research is urgently needed to analyze the various methods and degrees of electoral fraud prevalent in our country. Without closing all the loopholes that enable such malpractice, it will be exceedingly difficult to conduct a free, fair, and acceptable election.
Under the current electoral framework, the statements of an Election Commissioner (EC) or even the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) bear little significance if the individuals responsible for executing the elections on the ground are not sincere in their duties.
In our country, election administration at the field level involves returning officers, assistant returning officers, presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, polling officers, and members of law enforcement agencies.
Typically, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of a district serves as the returning officer, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) acts as the assistant returning officer, and teachers from various schools, colleges, and madrasas, as well as occasionally bank officials, handle the subsequent responsibilities.
History has shown us the numerous ways in which officials engaged in election-related duties—such as DCs, Superintendents of Police (SPs), UNOs, and Officers-in-Charge (OCs)—can be influenced.
During election years, opposition or dissident candidates and their activists often find themselves targeted by local administrations through harassment, lawsuits, attacks, and oppression. As election day nears, these efforts intensify, with measures being taken to drive potential polling agents of opposition parties out of their homes and away from polling stations.
On election day itself, various unethical practices are employed to manipulate the results. Dummy agents are appointed to exert influence over polling centers, illegal monetary transactions take place, and individuals holding dissenting opinions are subjected to threats and intimidation.
In elections that lack participation or competition, the absence of opposition agents at polling centers allows fraudulent ballot stuffing, often accounting for 20–30% of votes, with ballots cast on behalf of deceased or absent voters to ensure a pre-determined outcome.
Additionally, controlling National ID (NID) cards and cards for widow, disability, and distressed allowances has been used to coerce or incentivize voters into supporting specific candidates.
In some cases, minority groups and indigenous communities are intimidated and prevented from voting altogether.
Another significant barrier to fair elections is the rampant overspending during campaigns. Despite legal limits restricting campaign expenditures to 2.5 million BDT, instances have been documented where candidates spent sums ranging from 2.5 billion to 10 billion or even 30 billion BDT, severely undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
Therefore, the importance of building and maintaining strong trust in the electoral process cannot be overstated. To ensure free and fair elections in the future, collective efforts from all stakeholders are essential.
Additionally, voter awareness must be prioritized as a cornerstone of credible elections. Legal action must be taken against any officials, employees, or voters involved in corrupt practices to establish accountability and deter unethical behavior.
