Representatives of the civil society have demanded a free and fair re-election under a neutral government, during a discussion at the National Press Club on Monday.
Supreme Court Advocate Dr Shahdeen Malik, Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul, Prof Anu Muhammad, and Mowlik Odhikar Sorokkha Committee member Shirin Haque were among those who addressed the discussion, organized by the Mowlik Odhikar Sorokkha Committee.
Claiming the 11th general election was part of a plan to perpetuate power, Prof Anu Muhammad said: “No elections were fair and acceptable in the history of Bangladesh and the election last year broke all records. No elections were held like the one on December 30, 2018.”
Urging the government to consider the Bangladeshi people as citizens rather than vassals, he demanded a free and fair re-election under a neutral government.
Raising allegations of vote rigging, Dr Shahdeen Malik claimed voting during the December 30 polls took place from 4am to 10am in some areas, despite balloting having been scheduled from 8am-4pm.
“The December 30 election broke the entire electoral system, as well as all institutes including the judiciary,” he said.
He also claimed the last election proved that the Election Commission is a farce.
Prof Asif Nazrul called for the government to hold a neutral re-election as soon as possible, to meet their responsibility of ensuring democracy, the upholding of human rights, and the rule of law.