THE Election Commission鈥檚 decision to deny access to foreign observers who previously endorsed Bangladesh鈥檚 three latest national elections as credible is welcome. The observers played a pivotal role in legitimising the rigged, stage-managed and manipulated 10th, 11th and 12th national elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024, thus helping the Awami League to cling to power. Such endorsements painted the flawed elections as 鈥榝ree and fair鈥� while in reality, they did nothing more than a mockery of democracy. The credibility and motives of some of the foreign observers have already come under scrutiny. Joining them were several local observers and organisations, many of which also gave undue legitimacy to the sham elections. This calls for not only caution but also decisive action against such local entities that compromised their integrity in endorsing fraudulent elections. A number of political analysts, both local and international, raised serious concern about the role of such observers, before and after elections. Media investigation shows how the ruling Awami League and its affiliates facilitated and, even, hand-picked them to manufacture international credibility for elections that were neither free nor participatory.
The 2014 election after the abolition of the caretaker government system that had overseen elections since 1991 was boycotted by major parties in the opposition, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. As a result, the Awami League secured 153 seats uncontested and won a sweeping majority. In 2018, parties in the opposition joined elections on the Awami League鈥檚 assurance of fairness only to encounter electoral frauds. The event came to be known as the 鈥榤idnight election鈥� as ballots were reportedly stuffed the night before the polling day by Awami League activists, with the help of election and administrative officials. In 2024, the Awami League yet again held sham elections, this time boycotted by all major parties in the opposition. The Awami League fielded many of its leaders as independent candidates to contest its official candidates to make it look like a competition. All the three elections were also preceded by crackdown on the opposition. Thousands of opposition leaders, activists and potential candidates were detained in days leading up to the polling. Despite efforts to project the elections as inclusive, they were marked by low voter turnout. Two former chief election commissioners, now facing legal proceedings, have admitted to manipulation and misconduct during their tenure.
The complicity of both foreign and local observers in whitewashing electoral fraud contributed to Bangladesh鈥檚 democratic backslide. The Election Commission must, therefore, ensure that individuals and organisations who helped to legitimise the flawed elections are barred from future involvement. The governments and institutions that send election observers should also ensure that their delegates act with integrity and do not become instrumental in legitimising authoritarian rule.