Election Commission dismissive of TIB report on polls

The Election Commission has waved off the Transparency International, Bangladesh report in which the organisation alleged irregularities in the 11th parliamentary elections.

Asked for comments on the report on Tuesday, Election Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam questioned the making of the report by TIB, the local branch of the Berlin-based organisation promoting public opinion against corruption.

“We didn’t ask them to make any report on the election. We have nothing to do with it (TIB report),” he said. 

“How was it made? How was the evidence collected? We had no involvement in it and no-one sought the EC’s permission for making the report,” the election commissioner said.

Election Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam speaking to reporters.

The TIB has not been listed as an election observer, he noted, declining to comment on the organisation’s observations and recommendations.

“They should have taken our and the government’s views. But they did not involve us in any way or informed officially. So we are not evaluating the report. We not taking cognisance of the report,” he said.

“We will speak if they officially inform us about it,” Rafiqul added.

In the report published earlier in the day, the TIB labelled the Dec 30 general election as ‘controversial’, saying the participating political parties did not have equal opportunities and the vote was marred by irregularities.

Such an election does not augur well for democracy, it added.

TIB organised a press conference in Dhaka on Jan 15, 2019 to publish its report on the 11th parliamentary elections.

The BNP and its Jatiya Oikya Front alliance have rejected the results of the polls and demanded fresh elections alleging widespread rigging, irregularities and intimidation of their supporters and candidates.

The EC rejected the demand while the ruling Awami League dismissed the allegations of rigging and intimidation.