The Election Working Alliance (EWA) on Monday said the 13th National Parliamentary Election appeared peaceful on the surface but was marred by structural flaws and irregularities.
Presenting the organisation’s assessment at a press conference at the National Press Club in the capital, EWA chief Md Shariful Alam said that although voting seemed calm, the process was “structurally defective.”
“Some officials, including bureaucrats, police, Ansar members and presiding officers, displayed partisan behaviour, raising questions about the transparency of the election process,” he said, calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations.
At the event, the group released an observation report titled ‘Election and post-election situation: An assessment’. The report documented more than 200 incidents of violence occurring on the day before the election and during the two days following the election.
According to the report, voter turnout was satisfactory. However, it cited delays in vote counting, late announcement of results, evidence of alterations on result sheets, and discrepancies between voter numbers and declared results as factors that have fueled public suspicion.
“These incidents indicate flaws and irregularities within the election management system,” the report stated.
The organisation also expressed concern over post-election violence. Shariful Alam alleged that in the two days following the vote, leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and their supporters were attacked in different parts of the country by leaders and activists of BNP.
Reports of assault, vandalism and arson were received, he said.
EWA observed that an election cannot be considered credible solely on the basis of peaceful polling. “Proper and transparent vote counting is equally important,” the report emphasided.
Shariful Alam further called for an independent investigation by civil society into administrative reshuffles in key government positions ahead of the election.
Also present at the press conference were EWA General Secretary Khondkar Zakaria Ahmed, Vice President Hemayet Hossain, and Rafiquzzaman Roman, head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Manarat International University.
