Online Desk:
On Monday (January 12, 2026), the National Election (2014, 2018 and 2024) Investigation Commission submitted its report to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus.
In the afternoon, after submitting the report at the State Guest House Jamuna, the members of the commission discussed various issues of the investigation. Present at the meeting were former Chief Justice Shamim Hasnain, Commission members Shamim Al Mamun, Kazi Mahfuzul Haque Supan, Barrister Tazrian Akram Hossain, Dr. Md. Abdul Alim. Among the advisors were Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul, Industry Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan, Information Advisor Rizwana Hasan, Culture Advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooqui.
In its investigation report, the commission said that the uncontested elections in 153 seats and the ‘contest’ elections in 147 uncontested seats in 2014 were completely arranged and well-planned. The investigation revealed that this arrangement was made to keep the Awami League in power as per the highest decision of the state.
The report said that since the 2014 elections were criticized all over the world as an uncontested election, the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina took on the mission of making the 2018 elections ‘contestable’. BNP and other opposition parties did not understand their far-reaching plan and participated in the elections.
After receiving the report, the chief advisor said, ‘We had heard about vote-rigging, we knew some things. But they have so shamelessly distorted the entire process, twisted the system and written a verdict on a piece of paper according to their own wishes. These need to be presented before the nation. There needs to be a complete record.’
The chief advisor also said, ‘The entire nation has been punished by spending the country’s money and organizing elections with the people’s money. The people of this country were watching helplessly. Couldn’t do anything. So that the people of this country can get some relief, the faces of those involved must be brought to the fore. We must know who did it, how they did it. We must make arrangements so that election robbery never happens again.’
According to the investigation commission’s estimate, in 2018, ballot papers were sealed at night in 80% of the centers, ensuring the victory of the Awami League. There was a kind of unfair competition within the administration to win the Awami League. As a result, the voting rate in some centers exceeded 100%. In 2024, when the opposition parties including BNP did not participate in the elections, the evil tactic of making the elections ‘competitive’ by using ‘dummy’ candidates was adopted.
The report said that the innovative plan for the three elections was made according to the highest level decision of the state and a part of the administration, police, Election Commission and intelligence agencies were used as a state for implementation. A special cell was formed with some officials, which came to be known as the election cell.
During the period 2014-2024, the electoral system was essentially taken over from the Election Commission into the hands of the administration. During this time, the administration, instead of the Commission, became the main force in conducting elections.
The report has recommendations from the Commission.
