Civil society reminds CEC of fallout from disputed polls

In a rare and deeply consequential gathering that blended urgency, moral authority, and political foreboding, leading voices from Bangladesh’s civil society, academia, media, and former governance institutions issued a stark and historic warning to the current Election Commission: guarantee a free, fair, and inclusive national election in February 2025 or resign with dignity before presiding over another discredited poll. The dialogue, titled “Ensuring Credible Elections: The Role of Institutions and Civil Society,” was held at the Election Commission headquarters on Sunday and drew prominent intellectuals, reform advocates, and democratic watchdogs. The event unfolded against a backdrop of deepening public distrust in state institutions and the sobering reality that two former Chief Election Commissioners—Kazi Habibul Awal and KM Nurul Huda—are currently...