Credible 2026 election at risk, EC admits
Noman Mosharef :
The Election Commission (EC) is grappling with multiple challenges as it prepares to hold Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election in early February 2026, an exercise the interim government has pledged will be credible and transparent.
According to officials, the most pressing tasks include restoring public confidence in the voting system, ensuring law and order, creating a level playing field for all political parties, reducing mistrust among rivals, and securing high voter turnout.
Other concerns highlighted by the EC involve keeping law enforcement agencies neutral and active, preventing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in the electoral process, curbing bias among polling officials, establishing voting centres, and ensuring the participation of expatriate voters.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, several EC officials warned that political violence could undermine the polls if the major parties fail to reach consensus on the disputed “July Charter.” Such a failure, they added, could also affect the election’s credibility in the eyes of the international community.
At a meeting last week, the EC reviewed potential obstacles and agreed in principle to ban the use of AI in the electoral system. The Commission also discussed publishing a draft list of polling stations, amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO), and coordinating efforts with relevant ministries.
Despite these preparations, critics note that the EC has been slow to take concrete steps to rebuild voter confidence, guarantee fairness, and improve security conditions. For now, the Commission remains focused on logistical arrangements and is expected to announce the official election schedule later this week.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud acknowledged the scale of the task. “There are huge challenges. Maintaining law and order is one of the biggest. Without it, it will be very difficult to hold free, fair and credible elections,” he told The New Nation. He added that he expected the security situation to improve once the election schedule was announced.
The EC is considering deploying the army, navy, air force and coast guard during the polls to strengthen security, and has already amended the RPO to facilitate this. Masud urged citizens to cooperate with the Commission, saying credible elections would only be possible with the support of all stakeholders.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, head of the Election Reform Commission, stressed that responsibility for credible polls does not rest with the EC alone. “It is also the duty of the government and the political parties,” he said.
“If the parties fail to reach consensus, opportunists will exploit the situation. Without agreement on the July Charter, there is a real risk of uncertainty over holding the election on time.”