Staff Reporter :
The perpetrators of crimes committed in the last three general elections should be held accountable, said the Chief of the Electoral Reform Commission (ERC), Badiul Alam Majumdar, on Friday.
“Those responsible for electoral crimes in the last three elections must be punished. The Election Commission (EC) itself committed some of the most significant offences,” he stated.
Majumdar made these comments while addressing a shadow parliament (debate) on the “Role of the EC, Candidates, and Citizens for a Fair Election,” organised by Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) in the capital.
He emphasised that the government plays a crucial role in elections, alongside the EC. “Without the government’s support, even a neutral Election Commission would struggle to conduct a fair election,” he added.
Regarding the newly formed Election Commission, led by AMM Nasir Uddin, Majumdar remarked, “A tree is known by its fruits. However, this commission faces fewer challenges than its predecessor, as there is no pressure from the ruling political party this time.”
Majumdar also noted that many media outlets did not provide accurate information during the last three national elections.
“The media’s role is vital, but in the previous elections, some media outlets deliberately withheld the truth, while others were pressured into silence,” he said.
The reform commission chief acknowledged that ensuring the participation of women and expatriate voters could pose a challenge for the Election Commission.
While calling for electoral system reforms, Majumdar stressed that sufficient time must be given for these changes to be properly implemented.
