Electoral irregularities like stamping ballot papers the night before the election and ballot stuffing by capturing booths took place in 47 out of 50 constituencies surveyed, says a TIB study on the 11th parliamentary polls.
Other irregularities include silent role of law enforcers and administrative officers, casting fake votes, barring voters from going to polling stations, forcing voters to cast vote for a specific symbol and barring polling agents to go to centres, the study found.
Transparency International Bangladesh unveiled the study titled "Review of Election Process of 11th National Election" through a press conference at its office in the capital yesterday.
It termed the election "partially participatory, non-competitive, questionable and faulty" and demanded judicial inquiry into the reported irregularities during the election.
The study, based on interviews of election stakeholders including law enforcement agencies, candidates and voters, was conducted between November 10 last year and January 10 in randomly selected 50 out of total 299 constituencies that went to polls on December 30.
Polls to Gaibandha-3 seat were postponed after the death of a candidate.
Of the 50 seats, the ruling Awami League candidates won 40, Jatiya Party six, Gono Forum two, BNP and JP-Manju won one each.
Speaking at the press conference, Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TIB, said, "Faulty election will hamper democracy."
He added, "The Election Commission failed to act neutrally and the role of a section of a polling officers and law enforcement agencies were biased."
The TIB boss also said all the candidates were not allowed to conduct electioneering freely while voters faced obstacle to cast their votes, so this election is partially participatory.
Contacted, Election Commissioner Rafiqul Islam trashed the TIB study and called it “pre-determined” and “imaginary”.
TIB did not provide the names of 50 constituencies.
The report says the “50 seats covered under the survey are in 45 districts of nine divisions. Of those, the highest -- 11 seats -- are in Dhaka division, followed by Chattogram with nine. The lowest -- four seats each -- in Sylhet and Barishal.”
Presenting the report, TIB Senior Programme Manager (research and policy) Shahjada M Akram said that irregularities were witnessed in at least one or more voting centres of 47 out of 50 constituencies.
Ballots were stamped the night before the elections in at least one and more centres in 33 constituencies, stamping ballots openly by occupying booth in one and more centres in 30 seats, non-availability of ballot papers in one and more centres of 22 constituencies, she said.
The TIB study found ballot boxes filled-up prior to the beginning of polling in 20 constituencies; voters forced to cast vote for a particular symbol 26 constituencies, people barred from going to centres in 26 seats, voters driven away from centres in 21 seats, beating supporters of opponents in 11 constituencies.
The survey found casting fake votes in 41 seats, silent role of administration and law enforcing agencies in 42 seats and obstructing and driving out polling agents in 29 seats.
In each of the 50 constituencies, not all the polling centres necessarily saw the irregularities. In one seat, irregularities took place in one or more centres.
When asked who were behind or carried out the irregularities, Ifthekharuzzaman and Shahjada M Akram told the press that they “cannot” say this.
The study found that AL candidates violated election code of conduct more than any other candidates of the latest general elections.
It said 95 percent AL candidates violated election code of conduct by bringing out procession or holding showdowns, while 88 per cent JP candidates and 31 per cent BNP candidates did the same offence.
TIB said 80 percent AL candidates, 75 percent JP and 44 percent BNP candidates pasted posters violating the electoral code. Seventy eight percent AL candidates created obstacle to street rallies, indoor meetings and other electioneering of other candidates violating the electoral codes, while 50 percent JP and 2.8 BNP candidates did the offence.
TIB in its report alleged that EC in maximum cases was unable to play proper role during the election process. It did not take effective steps for ensuring all parties' participation in election.
No role was played to create same scope of electioneering for all parties. The EC also failed to create an example by taking steps against electoral code violation by ruling party men.
“In one hand EC has failed to create a level playing field for all parties and candidates, on the other hand difference of opinion of commissioners regarding it became public,” the report said.
The EC also made “transparency of election” questionable by controlling the flow of information, slowing down internet speed and putting restriction on the election observers, it said.
TIB recommended the authorities concerned appoint, honest, skilled, neutral and courageous person as Election Commissioner and enactment of law setting appointment process and qualification for the appointment.
It also said the Election Commission, administration, law enforcing agencies and all others will have to be neutral and free from influence of any party for the sake of free, fair and acceptable election under a partisan government.
