Chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal’s comment defending the recent amendment of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) seems to be well-synchronised with the government’s narrative. Brushing aside experts’ criticisms for losing some of its crucial regulatory powers, the CEC said, "No authority of the Election Commission (EC) has been abolished with the amendment; it has been consolidated.” If the CEC’s assertion that no authority has been curtailed is true, then one may ask: what warranted them to seek legal authority for cancelling elections of an entire constituency in the event of widespread violation of electoral rules? Experts have merely pointed out that the authority the EC sought was already there, and they even applied that power in suspending voting of the entire constituency in Gaibandha by-polls last year. Following the new amendment, the EC will no longer be able to cancel or suspend voting of an entire constituency, let alone the election proc...

It has been a year since the new Election Commission (EC) was constituted according to a law that has stipulated the qualifications of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other commissioners, as well as their recruitment process - although the law itself is not above controversy. Since the new EC’s appointment, the government and the ruling party, have been relentlessly trying to pursue and convince everyone within the country and interested international observers that this institution has the capacity and authority to conduct all elections independently, ensuring fairness.  However, the functioning and the activities of the new EC, including the election of the new president, local government (zilla parishad) elections and a few parliamentary by-elections during the last one year, have been the least convincing of the idea. The lone issue where the commission has proven Its resolve is its tireless but irrational push for procuring Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), even in t...