''12th National Parliament Election Process Tracking'' is a

research report A research report is a publication that reports on the findings of a research project. Research reports are produced by many sectors including industry, education, government and non-government organizations and may be disseminated internally, or ...

published by

Transparency International Bangladesh Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) is the Bangladeshi branch of the Berlin-based Transparency International, a civil society organisation dedicated to fighting against corruption. History TIB started its activities in 1997, under found ...

(TIB) on the

2024 Bangladeshi general election General elections were held in Bangladesh on 7 January 2024 in accordance with the Constitution of Bangladesh, constitutional requirement, stating that elections must take place within the 90-day period before the expiration of the current term ...

, which faced opposition party boycotts. Presented at a press conference on 17 January, 2024, the report highlighted the election's one-sided nature and lack of competitiveness, neither free nor inclusive, posing a threat to the country's democracy. The

Bangladesh Election Commission The Bangladesh Election Commission (), abbreviated and publicly referred to as EC, is a government controlled constitutional body that operates the Law, legal functions of election laws in Bangladesh. Article 118 of the Constitution of Bangla ...

played a catalytic role in advancing the one-sided 'agenda,' with other state institutions, including law enforcement agencies and the administration, supporting the same 'agenda.' While independent candidates from the government party were assigned roles to foster competitiveness, most constituencies lacked true competition, with 241 out of 300 having no contests. A total of 41.8 percent polling, including 15.43 percent polling in the last hour of the election, sparked controversy. Despite technical success, the report suggests enduring questions about political integrity, democratic values, and ethical standards. The election failed to meet the prerequisites for fairness, participation, impartiality, and equal competition. The results indicate consolidated institutional dominance and a continued path of unchecked power and responsibility-free implementation in the political and governance system.

Reception

Kazi Habibul Awal Kazi Habibul Awal (born 21 January 1956) is a retired senior secretary and the former chief election commissioner of Bangladesh. He resigned as CEC on 5 September 2024. Early life and education Habibul Awal was born on 21 January 1956 in Comil ...

, the

Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) () heads the Election Commission of Bangladesh, a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections. Appointment and removal The appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh ...

, acknowledges the lack of inclusivity in the election but distances himself from advancing the government's agenda. He emphasizes the erosion of public faith in the electoral process due to political leadership. The

Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...

rejects the report as one-sided, anti-government, absurd, and full of nonsense, while the BNP welcomes it, considering it a reflection of public opinion. Awami League leaders such as

Obaidul Quader Obaidul Quader (born 1 February 1952) is a Bangladeshi politician. He has served as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League since October 2016. Quader was previously the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges from 2011–2024 and ...

Hasan Mahmud Hasan Mahmud (; born 12 October 1999) is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He plays as a right arm fast pace bowler. He made his international debut for the Bangladesh cricket team in March 2020. Domestic career He made his first-class debut for Chitt ...

, and Mohammad A. Arafat share this sentiment, asserting that TIB aligns with BNP's perspective. The report, endorsed by the BNP, is embraced by leaders like

Nazrul Islam Khan Nazrul Islam Khan is a Bangladeshi politician. He is currently a member of the Bangladesh National Party's National Standing Committee. He was the BNP's polls coordination committee chief for the 2018 Bangladeshi general election. Biography ...

Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku Iqbal Hasan Mahmud (), also known as Tuku (), is a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician and a former state minister of power and agriculture during 2001–2006. Early life and background Mahmud was born into a Bengali Muslim family of Taluqda ...

, Abdul Moyeen Khan, and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, who assert that it has revealed the truth.

References

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External links

Video of 12th National Parliament Election Process Tracking
2024 Bangladeshi general election Transparency International Bangladesh