The 11th Parliamentary Election was partially participatory, says Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
In a report titled ‘Review of 11th Jatiyo Sangsad Election Process’ released on Tuesday (Jan 15), the TIB also recommended a judicial inquiry into the allegations of irregularities.
Speaking at the event, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman has said, “Though all parties had fielded their own candidates, a level playing field and equal campaigning opportunities for all were not observed.
“The Election commission had failed to create an equal campaigning opportunity for all parties. Opposition candidates faced obstruction while electioneering and arranging campaign rallies,” he said.
Iftekharuzzaman claimed the EC had shown a discriminatory attitude.
“A quarter of the law enforcement agencies had also shown partiality during their polls duty,” he said.
Incidents of irregularities involved law enforcers and the administration playing a silent role, ballot stuffing, fake voting, booth capturing and stamping ballots among others, according to the report.
The TIB claimed it found “ballots were stamped on the night before the elections” in at least one or more than one centre in 33 of the 50 constituencies surveyed and “booths were occupied and ballot stuffing” in 30.