Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, chief of the Electoral Reform Commission, said on Friday that those responsible for crimes committed during the last three general elections should face punishment.
"Those who committed electoral crimes in the last three elections must be held accountable. The Election Commission has been responsible for the most significant offences," Majumdar said while speaking at a shadow parliament debate titled "The Role of the EC, Candidates, and Citizens in Ensuring Fair Elections," organized by Debate for Democracy and held at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) in Dhaka.
He emphasized that the government plays a crucial role in elections alongside the EC. "If the government does not cooperate, even a neutral Election Commission will be unable to conduct a fair election," he said.
Commenting on the newly formed Election Commission, led by AMM Nasir Uddin, Majumdar said: "A tree is judged by its fruits. However, this EC does not face significant challenges, as there is no pressure from the ruling political party this time, unlike in previous elections."
He also criticized the role of the media in past elections, saying: "The media plays an important role in elections, but during the last three general elections, some media outlets deliberately withheld the truth, while others were coerced into doing so."
Majumdar highlighted the need to ensure the participation of women voters and expatriate voters, identifying these as potential challenges for the Election Commission.
Acknowledging the importance of electoral system reform, he said that time must be allowed for necessary reforms to take place.
