AL's participation in upcoming election will be decided through legal process: Badiul Alam

The participation of the Awami League in the upcoming national elections will be decided through legal procedures, said Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder, head of the Election Reform Commission and a member of the National Consensus Commission.

Speaking as the chief guest at a Shadow Parliament debate on electoral fairness, held at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation on Saturday (August 16), Dr. Majumder noted that the government has currently banned the activities of the Awami League.

He stated that whether the party can contest in the election will be settled through a legal process involving the government and the Election Commission.

Dr. Badiul Alam also confirmed that the interim government is preparing for elections scheduled in February next year. “The process is moving forward, and we hope elections will be held as planned,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of institutional reform, Dr. Badiul Alam cautioned that without changes to the current electoral system, future elections may again become controversial. “Fair elections are not possible without systemic reforms. The same system that brought Sheikh Hasina to power has turned her into an authoritarian figure,” he said.

He emphasized that a collective and responsible approach from all stakeholders — the government, Election Commission, political parties, candidates, and voters — is essential for a fair and credible election.

In his remarks as event president, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron echoed similar concerns. He criticized the inefficacy of technical solutions like body cameras in preventing electoral violence and intimidation. “Buying 40,000 more body cameras will not ensure fair elections if polling centers are occupied and opposition agents are threatened,” he said, stressing the need for accountability across the electoral process.

The debate event, organized by Debate for Democracy, focused on the Election Commission’s role in ensuring fair elections amid ongoing political uncertainty.