Dr Yunus outlined five strategic arenas for reform: the Election Commission (EC), judiciary, civil administration, security forces, and media.
The machines that still remain functional have only four years of their lifespan left.
Has the EC played its due role? Or have its actions—or rather inactions—contributed to the current political crisis?
It is quite intriguing as to why the EC felt it necessary to hold a meeting with an organisation that does not have a clean history of poll monitoring.
The amendment of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) comes at a critical juncture when the demand for holding a free and fair election in Bangladesh is getting louder at home and abroad
People are facing problem in purchasing SIMs and get other services as mobile phone operators can not verify the buyer’s information due to problem in NID database server at the Election Commission.
It must also ensure fair campaign in the lead-up to elections
It is quite intriguing how the RPA amendment can be so accommodating to defaulters who are desperate to gain political power.
It must be recognised that the election is not a one-day phenomenon – it is a process involving multiple interrelated steps
We need an EC which is truly independent from all aspects; this independence does not only mean structural independence, but operational and financial independence along with individual independence of the election commissioners.
Rejecting the bail petition of ruling Awami League lawmaker Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury, the High Court yesterday ordered him to surrender before the lower court concerned by June 20 in a case filed for assaulting an upazila election officer.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad says the causality increased during fifth phase of Union Parishad (UP) election compared to the previous phases.
It sets a dangerous precedent in a country when we come to expect and accept incidents of violence and irregularities as an inevitable part of the electoral process.
The Election Commission has issued an order to withdraw the superintendent of police and officer-in-charges of two police stations of Gazipur for the sake of fair election as the district goes into Union Parishad polls on Saturday.
The EC has been under fire after two phases of UP elections were marred by widespread irregularities and violence.
The Election Commission has allocated the ‘torch’ polls-sign to the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) faction of Hasanul Haq Inu, weeks after a split in the party and tug-war over the symbol.
Though widespread violence and loss of dozens of lives marked the first two phases of union parishad polls, the Election Commission and the law enforcement agencies have praised each other for their respective roles.
The Election Commission has now made the media a whipping boy to counter widespread criticism for its failure to hold the Union Parishad elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will sit with the top leaders of 20-party alliance to decide whether it will participate in the Union Parishad elections.
