EC alone cannot guarantee fair polls without govt support: Badiul Alam

FE Team | Published: August 16, 2025 22:57:01

Head of the Election System Reform Commission Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar has said the Election Commission (EC) alone cannot ensure a free and fair national election without support from the government, report agencies.
"If political parties resort to muscle power and money games, a good election will not be possible," he warned.
He made the remarks while speaking at a shadow parliament debate titled 'The Role of the Election Commission is Key to Ensuring a Fair National Election' organised by Debate for Democracy in the capital on Saturday.
Chairman of the organisation Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron presided over the programme.
Dr Majumdar said it is essential to hold the election within the announced timeframe in February, ensuring a level playing field for all parties, but he stressed that along with the EC, candidates, voters, civil society, media and political parties all must act responsibly.
Referring to student politics, he emphasised that student bodies should not be reduced to muscle power of political parties. He noted that outcomes of the university student union elections may even influence the results of national election.
Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury said political parties, the main stakeholders of elections, are yet to reach a consensus on several crucial issues, including whether to adopt the traditional or PR systems.
He warned that if elections cannot be held within the declared timeframe, the country could plunge into a grave crisis., urging all political parties to compromise for the sake of democracy, the country, and the people.