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Published : 27 Jun 2025, 12:11 AM
The interim government has formed a five-strong committee to investigate alleged irregularities, corruption and criminal conduct in the last three general elections held under the Awami League.
The panel, led by former High Court justice Shamim Hasnain, has been tasked with submitting its report by Sept 30, according to a Cabinet Division notification issued on Thursday.
Other members include former additional secretary Shamim Al Mamun, Dhaka University law associate professor Quazi Mahfuzul Hoque Supan, District and Sessions Judge Court lawyer Tajriyaan Akram Hussain, and election expert Md Abdul Alim.
The probe covers the 10th, 11th and 12th parliamentary elections, each heavily criticised during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
The BNP, now pursuing legal action over what it calls “voteless elections”, has filed a case accusing the Awami League government of staging them without public mandate.
The case, filed on Sunday, names 19 people including ousted prime minister Hasina and all officials of the Election Commission (EC) involved in the three polls.
Hours later, former chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda was arrested and placed on a four-day remand.
On Wednesday, former CEC Kazi Habibul Awal was also detained and remanded for three days.
The caretaker administration announced the investigation committee amid the BNP’s case, arrests, and mounting scrutiny over election conduct.
The Cabinet Division said the elections had drawn strong domestic and international criticism, with allegations that the Awami League returned to power through “engineered processes” while people’s right to vote was denied.
It warned that these elections had raised serious concerns about violations of constitutional requirements to govern through elected representatives, putting rule of law, democracy, and basic rights at “risk”.
The committee will analyse reports from election observers, local and international monitoring groups, civil society organisations and media outlets.
Its mandate includes:
Investigating allegations of misconduct, corruption and crime in the electoral process
Reviewing expert views on the neutrality and acceptability of the polls
Analysing whether the then-ruling party and others attempted to restrict political participation or voter rights
Examining the roles of the respective ECs, their secretariats, and public administration during the elections
Scrutinising the actions of law-enforcing and intelligence agencies
Probing allegations of financial misconduct against the former ECs
Based on its findings, the committee will identify those responsible for any wrongdoing and provide recommendations for legal, procedural and institutional reforms to ensure future elections are free, fair and credible.
