Is govt’s ‘Yes’ campaign sparks questions over neutrality in polls?
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh’s interim government has come under scrutiny for actively campaigning for a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum, which will be held alongside the 13th national parliamentary election on February 12.
Traditionally tasked with overseeing free and fair elections, the government’s promotion of a particular outcome has raised concerns over impartiality and the integrity of both the referendum and the national election.
The campaign includes a widely circulated photo card urging citizens to “Give a seal for ‘Yes’” and a video explaining the benefits of a ‘Yes’ vote.
The video, produced under the Ministry of Culture, references families affected by the July movement and members of the enforced disappearance commission to underscore the need for constitutional reforms.
Government sources indicate that bank officials, teachers, and religious leaders have been instructed to actively promote the ‘Yes’ vote, including through banners, sermons, and cultural programs.
Analysts note that the Election Commission has remained neutral, providing guidance only on voting procedures. However, concerns persist that deputy commissioners (DCs) and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), who serve as returning officers during elections, could compromise neutrality if involved in campaigning.
“If DCs or UNOs intervene directly, questions about fairness may arise,” said election observer Abdul Alim, also a member of the Election System Reform Commission and National Election Inquiry Commission.
Government’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and Key Reforms : The referendum addresses four major areas, including the formation of constitutional institutions under the July Charter, creation of a bicameral parliament, implementation of 30 political party-approved proposals, and other pledged reforms.
The caretaker government has highlighted 12 points to promote the ‘Yes’ vote. These include limiting a prime minister’s tenure to 10 years, restricting presidential powers to pardon convicts, and requiring cooperation between government and opposition to form key institutions such as the caretaker government, Election Commission, and Public Service Commission.
Chief Adviser’s special assistant Professor Ali Riaz has publicly stated that a ‘Yes’ vote would prevent night-time elections in the future. Meanwhile, in a November national address, the Chief Adviser outlined that a majority ‘Yes’ would lead to the formation of a constitutional reform council composed of newly elected parliamentarians, tasked with completing reforms within 180 working days.
The council would also oversee the formation of an upper parliamentary house proportionate to the lower house’s vote distribution.
Political Parties’ Stance: Political parties have expressed differing positions on the referendum. Jamaat-e-Islami openly supports a ‘Yes’ vote, citing its commitment to reforms, while BNP maintains that campaigning is the responsibility of the electorate, not the party.
BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir emphasized that voting is a personal decision and that the party’s 31-point recommendation for the National Consensus Commission already reflect their stance on reforms.
The National Congress Party (NCP), a leader of the July movement, has appointed constituency-based representatives to campaign for ‘Yes,’ despite not signing the July Charter. Observers highlight that the caretaker government’s active promotion of ‘Yes’ complicates the environment for a level playing field.
Concerns Over Fairness and Legal Implications :Legal experts argue that government campaigning undermines neutrality. Law expert Shahdeen Malik noted that while the caretaker government’s active participation shows partisanship, remaining neutral would have been more ethical.
He added that the outcome could trigger legal challenges if citizens claim the referendum was unfair due to government influence.
Munira Khan, former president of the Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (FIMA), said that while the caretaker government is actively campaigning, voters still have the choice to reject reforms. However, she emphasized that government involvement raises concerns over the fairness of the process.
Election observers also highlighted the questionable role of returning officers. Teachers and bank officials, who often serve as presiding officers during elections, are being instructed to advocate for the ‘Yes’ vote, raising fears that electoral processes could be compromised.
“Allegations could emerge that returning officers manipulated votes to favor ‘Yes,’” Alim said, warning that the impartiality of election administration must be preserved.
The caretaker government, however, maintains that there is no legal barrier to promoting a ‘Yes’ vote. Legal analysts, citing past controversial elections, caution that future challenges could arise despite this claim.
As Bangladesh approaches a critical election period, the government’s active referendum campaign underscores the tension between reform initiatives and maintaining electoral neutrality, raising questions about whether the caretaker administration can remain an impartial arbiter in the democratic process.