Election and Referendum Were ‘Severely Flawed,’ Claim 551 Professionals

A total of 551 distinguished citizens from various professions have demanded the cancellation of the results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum held on 12 February, claiming that the election was seriously flawed. They called for a fresh election under a neutral caretaker government.

The demand was made in a joint statement issued on Monday by citizens from different professions, including journalists, physicians, academics, and lawyers. The statement was signed on behalf of the signatories by Dr. Jamal Uddin Chowdhury, President of Shasthya Chinta Parishad (Swachip).

The statement said that the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum held under the “illegal” government of Dr. Yunus were severely flawed and had damaged the country’s image. Widespread ballot fraud, empty polling stations without voters, and what it described as a “festival” of stamping ballot papers on the night before election day rendered the election unacceptable.

It further stated that the Awami League, the party that led the country’s birth and claims the support of more than 50 percent of voters, along with the 14-party alliance and other progressive parties, were deliberately excluded from the election by Dr. Yunus’s government, which was allegedly formed through illegal and unconstitutional means without regard for laws or regulations. The statement said that this reality was reflected in the initial reactions of the Commonwealth and the European Union.

Quoting Rohana Hettiarachchi, Chairman of the Asian Network for Free Elections, the statement said that at a post-observation press conference he noted that the suspension of the Awami League’s registration had affected inclusiveness and political competition. He also mentioned a lack of accountability in the election.

The statement claimed that, according to observations by journalists known to be critical of the Awami League, voter turnout did not exceed 25–30 percent. The signatories reminded that in the participatory and inclusive election held in 2008 under a caretaker government, voter turnout exceeded 87.5 percent.

Referring to the role of the Election Commission regarding the referendum results, the statement said the nation was astonished and disappointed. It alleged that serial numbers were not printed on referendum ballot papers in anticipation of facilitating manipulation. Moreover, it claimed that ballot papers were designed with a “tick” mark beside “Yes” and a “cross” beside “No,” influencing voters to stamp in favor of “Yes.” According to the results, in several constituencies turnout was shown as ranging from 175 to 244 percent.

The statement alleged that the Election Commission acted as a compliant body of the Yunus government, compromising its neutrality and damaging the country’s image abroad.

The professionals demanded the immediate cancellation of what they described as a manipulated and irregular election, the reconstitution of a neutral Election Commission under a non-partisan caretaker government, and the holding of a free, fair, participatory, and inclusive parliamentary election to restore the nation’s image. They argued that sustainable development and stability cannot be achieved by bypassing inclusive politics and society.

Among the signatories are 97 journalists including Molla Jalal, Syed Badrul Ahsan, Farida Yasmin, Manjurul Islam, Syed Borphan Kabir, and Shaban Mahmud; 243 physicians including Dr. Kamrul Ahsan, Dr. S U Ahmed, and Dr. Rokeya Sultana; nine academics including Professor Dr. Md Anwar Hossain and Professor Dr. A K M Jamal Uddin; and 202 lawyers including Barrister Navid Islam, Advocate Nasir Uddin, and Advocate Anisur Rahman.