Dhaka: Renowned photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam has expressed frustration over the Election Commission’s role in preventing irregularities surrounding Thursday’s national election. In a Facebook post in the early hours of Thursday, he wrote that the posts he had been sharing might not be representative, as they were based solely on information sent to him.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Shahidul Alam stated, “I have no way of knowing how much rigging is going on or who is doing the most rigging. But it is clear that the situation is rampant, and that the EC is largely ineffective.” He expressed concerns that while during the Awami League’s tenure there was “only one party,” it now appears to be “a free for all.”
Shahidul Alam further commented on the nature of the ongoing election, saying, “Given what I am already seeing, I see no way in which this election can be described as being ‘free, fair, and inclusive’.” He criticized the interim government’s mixed success, noting that while some failures might be overlooked, the inability to conduct a proper election could severely damage its credibility.
He cautioned that without immediate and effective measures to curb irregularities and hold violators accountable, the situation could become a “permanent stain” on the administration. Alam expressed his concern by stating, “Too many have shed too much blood for our country to be reduced to this.”
The source noted that upon reviewing Shahidul Alam’s social media activity, only one post directly related to alleged vote rigging was found.