Less than one year is left ahead of next national election. However, the election commission (EC)  hasn’t achieved a credible place among the people and its stakeholders yet.

The chief election commissioner (CEC) faced criticism in his first press conference, but was lauded for some of his works, especially for their initiative of cancelling vote in Gaibndha-5 by-elections after observing irregularities in close circuit camera. But, the problems regarding EVMs in Rangpur created discomfort among the voters. Some of the statements given by CEC created controversy, while one statement from an EC regarding declaration of prize of $ 10 million if there’s any defect in EVMs also created huge debate.

The election commission under CEC Kazi Habibul Awal was formed on February 26, 2022 through a search committee after issuing law for appointing CEC and ECs.  After the new ECs joined the office, they began dialogues with the political parties and stakeholders. However, BNP and the same-minded parties didn’t respond to their invitations for dialogues. They held many elections including city corporations elections, municipality and union parishad elections. They also conducted zilla parishad elections by using EVMs. In addition, a few by-polls in some pariliamentary seats, they used EVMs and CC camera. However, questions rose about not implementing CC camera in last six by-polls.

About their last one year, the election commissioner Brig. Gen. (retd.) Md Ahsan ?Habib Khan told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “Its not a matter to us how much time has been passed. We’re doing constitutional responsibilities and we’ll continue doing so. We’ll complete every task with transparency. So far, we’ve completed our duty cordially and achieved expected success. Time will evaluate the quality of our works.”

He said, “Its not a separate challenge and we’ll conduct 12^th parliamentary election decently and in acceptable manner in the same way we’ve conducted every election. The CEC already said we’re committed to hold a free, fair and credible election which gets acceptability in home and abroad.”

The Election Commissioner said, “We’ve conveyed strong message for right management of election. We’ve cancelled Gaibandha by-polls for having irregularities. The city corporation elections got acceptability. We’ve recovered the trust of the voters. We’ll strive to hold decent parliamentary elections. The by-elections held in the parliamentary seats left by BNP saw lack of competitions and less-presence of voters. However, its not the example of all the election we’re holding. We’ve no lack in willingness of holding a fair election and it will remain so.”

He said, "We are proceeding with the action plan to hold the 12th Parliamentary election in a participatory, free, impartial and fair manner. Dialogue with all stakeholders will continue. The Election Commission will make every effort to do so. But it is not reasonable to expect the Commission to resolve any issue politically. We will fulfill our constitutional responsibility as much as possible. As I have always said, after taking charge, I had to deal with political differences and questions on various issues. All parties will continue to be urged to come to vote. The Commission alone will not be able to do everything; everyone have to cooperate. We have proven with our actions, we have gone ahead to earn trust. We’ve one objective –to conduct 'free, fair, impartial, acceptable and participatory' elections."

In response to a question, he said, "We have not wasted any time with the plan to vote on EVMs in the maximum 150 seats; rather, public awareness has increased. We have chosen all in EVM and have been able to create interest and awareness of voters about EVMs all over the country. Considering the economic reality and everyone's expectations, voting in EVMs is not taking place on a large scale. However, maximum use will be made of active functional and fine EVMs. I think that the expectations of most political parties have been fulfilled. In such a situation, we hope that all parties will participate in the election and co-operate the commission.”

Solving the problem of constituency demarcation: One of the challenges ahead of the election commission is to solve the problem of constituency demarcation. For example, The Cumila 10 constituency is 91 km long from one end to another end. The biggest area of this region is Langolkot, which was a separate constituency earlier. However, it had been mingled to Cumilla 10 constituency in the period of the government of ‘1/11.’ The inhabitant of the Nangolkot filed their objection regarding the matter, but EC hasn’t taken any step.

Meanwhile, similar discrimination has been created in many other areas in Bangladesh. According to one statistic, 62 constituencies are unbalanced due to greater emphasis on administrative integrity in delimitation. Some constituencies have a population variation of more than 25 percent.

These seats were changed in 2008. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Election Commission released the draft of the boundaries of the parliamentary seats ahead of the 12th parliamentary elections. Before the 11th parliamentary elections, the boundaries of 25 constituencies were changed, but this time the EC is walking on the same path without making major changes in any constituencies. However, only six constituencies have undergone partial changes in the draft as some new administrative boundaries have been added. Time has been given till March 19 to raise objections on the draft boundary. According to analysts, resolution of the parliamentary seat boundary crisis has not been resolved for a long time. The previous Huda Commission also departed after living with border complications. There were many cases and complaints about border complications. But they did not take anything into consideration. The demand for seat change in many areas is long standing. There is also a seat with three-four upazilas. Again there are many constituencies with an upazila and small number of voters. But as the current commission has not made any changes in the boundaries of the parliamentary seats, the crisis of trust between the voters and the common people will increase.

12th Parliamentary Election Boundary Draft released: Notification in this regard signed by EC Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam has been issued. Kazi Habibul Awal Commission will redefine the final boundary after hearing the demands, objections, recommendations and opinions upon receiving the applications of the aggrieved persons. The revised boundaries are planned to be gazetted by the middle of this year. The 12th parliamentary elections will be held with these borders. The EC officials said that because of the new City Corporation, Mymensingh-4, Madaripur-3, Sunamganj-1, Sylhet-1, Sylhet-3, Cox's Bazar-3 constituencies have been proposed as new administrative areas. Apart from this, a revised name of an upazila has been added to Sunamganj-3 constituency. Election Commissioner Md Alamgir was at his office in the election building on Sunday. He told the reporters that the boundary that was decided in 2018 remains intact.

Following the five methods: keeping the 2018 total number of seats in each district unchanged; Keeping administrative units, especially upazilas and city wards intact as much as possible; Unions, municipal wards will not be divided into more than one parliamentary seat; Incorporating new administrative areas as they are added, expanded or abolished; Considering geographical features and communication system. The census will take years to finalize, so administrative and geographic integrity is a priority.

@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on February 27 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque