Dhaka: The recent parliamentary election has been characterized by the notable achievement of free voting and the acceptance of results by political parties, according to Badiul Alam Majumdar, the secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN). Speaking on Wednesday, Majumdar emphasized that despite various questions surrounding the election, the ability of voters to cast their ballots freely and the subsequent acceptance of the election outcome by political parties were significant milestones.
According to United News of Bangladesh, during a programme entitled ‘Presentation of a research-based evaluation of the 13th Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026,’ organized by SHUJAN, Majumdar highlighted the importance of voters being able to exercise their franchise without obstruction. However, he acknowledged allegations of isolated irregularities and called for proper investigations into these claims. Ekram Hossain, a central committee member of SHUJAN, presented a written paper during the event.
Majumdar also pointed out that while voters had the opportunity to participate in the election without major obstacles, the legal framework’s inadequacy could affect the fairness of elections. He noted that past elections under party governments failed to establish an environment conducive to credible polls, warning that similar issues might persist if existing legal provisions are not strictly adhered to.
Furthermore, Majumdar addressed the issue of nearly 35% of election candidates lacking income tax records. He mentioned that the Election System Reform Commission had previously proposed several reform measures that, if implemented, could have avoided controversies regarding loan defaulters, dual citizenship, and the eligibility of independent candidates. For instance, the commission suggested that loans should be regularized at least six months before an election and that habitual defaulters should be barred from contesting. Additionally, for independent candidates, the commission recommended collecting signatures from 500 voters instead of one percent of the electorate to reduce allegations of collusion. The failure to adopt these reforms has led to ongoing debates and discussions.