Elections can’t be fair if govt acts with bias: Iftekharuzzaman

Elections cannot be fair if the election-time government acts with bias, said Dr Iftekharuzzaman, member of the National Consensus Commission and Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

He added that if political parties themselves do not want free and fair elections, ensuring neutrality will be difficult. Therefore, it is essential to guarantee the impartial role of election observers and journalists.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman made the remarks on Friday (September 19) morning while inaugurating an election training programme organized by the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) and TIB in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.

Pointing out that many individuals close to the ruling Awami League are currently in the administration, he said, “We have to move forward keeping these weaknesses in mind.”

In response to a question, he said, “Our infrastructure—meaning good governance, accountability, the system of government, institutional transparency, and integrity—has been established through a long process. This is not only the outcome of the past 16 years, but a situation that has evolved over nearly 54 years. All institutions have been subjected to political influence through partisan alignment, creating professional conflicts. Sometimes these institutions have been made functional, but in many cases, they have been deliberately rendered ineffective.”

He further said, “It is not an easy task to reorganise the entire system within a short period, in just a year or a year and a half. That is why many are asking whether we can truly expect a fair election under this administration. There is logic behind this question, because it cannot be said that there are no agents or associates of the fallen government within the administration and law enforcement agencies.”

The TIB Executive Director also noted, “On the other hand, those who had long been deprived—when they regained their positions, partisanship was also reinstated in that process. That cannot be denied. At the same time, there is another group—those who are trying to remain neutral and maintain professionalism in their professional lives. I do not believe that everyone in the administration and law enforcement agencies is entirely biased. There are some officers and employees who are making sincere efforts.”