In its five-year term, the EC oversaw 7,409 elections, including the parliamentary polls of 2014.
The EC took charge in 2012, after a search committee formed by President Zillur Rahman submitted the names of five candidates. Over its tenure, the EC has been criticised by opposition parties and observers for not exercising their authority as a constitutional body.
The five member commission includes Brig Gen Md Zabed Ali (retd), Mohammad Abu Hafiz and Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, who were appointed on February 9, 2012. Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz was appointed on February 15, 2012.
The commission presided over national polls, presidential election, by-elections, elections to reserved seats, city corporation, zila parishad, upazila parishad, union parishad and municipality polls.
Jan 5 parliamentary electionThe commission faced widespread criticism for the 10th parliamentary election, known as ‘January 5 general elections’, where one of the two major political parties, BNP, boycotted the polls.
Because of the boycott, more than half of the candidates in 300 constituencies were elected unopposed.
BNP-led alliance threatened to cripple the country if the electoral schedule was announced without arranging the parliamentary polls under a non-party caretaker government.
Many lives were claimed in the ensuing violence.
Despite the incidents of violence and low turnout of voters, CEC Rakibuddin claimed that the election was 97% fair.
Different quarters including major political parties and civil society members accused the commission of failure and incompetency.
BNP terms the election as Death of Democracy Day and Awami Legue celebrates it as Victory Day of Democracy.
Violence in local pollsThe EC oversaw the fourth upazila parishad polls that were held in six phases starting from February 19, 2014. The elections were mired in controversy and massive violence. More than 100 people were killed in clashes at poll centres or during elections.
The EC held elections in 234 municipalities across the country on December 30, 2015.
It also held union parishad (UP) polls in 4,104 unions out of 4,555 in six phases, starting in February and ending on June 5, 2016.
At least 166 people were killed in pre-polls and post-polls clashes.
RPO amendmentIn 2013 the EC moved to exclude clause 91 (E) from the RPO, which empowers the commission to cancel candidature in case of serious violations of electoral laws and codes.
In the wake of strong criticism, the CEC clarified as to why they wanted to exclude the authority to cancel any candidature for national elections, saying that the provision is not applicable to be exercised.
On July 28, 2013, an EC meeting decided to propose abolishing clause 91 (E) of the RPO, which was incorporated in 2008 ahead of the ninth parliamentary elections.
The EC sent a proposal to the Law Ministry for vetting on the reforms they made on the RPO and passing it to Parliament for enactment.