However, CEC Kazi Rakibuddin also claimed that he, along with his deputies, discharged their duties impartially as mandated.
Rakib was addressing the final press briefing of his tenure on Wednesday at the media centre of the Election Commission Secretariat in Agargaon. He was accompanied by other four election commissioners – Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Brigadier General Md Zabed Ali (retd), and Md Shah Nawaz, and Mohammad Abdul Mobarak.
He defended the decision of holding the 2014 General Election citing concerns over the nationwide chaos that could have ensued had the polls not taken place.
Rakib said: “Three officials died and 130 more injured over the course of that election, but the rest held firm and carried out their duty.”
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The tenure of the commission led by Rakib oversaw 7,407 elections including the city corporation, upazila and union parishad polls and will expire on Wednesday.
When asked about the ruling party walking over the 2014 polls, Rakib said it was built into the Constitution that if a party lets another run with the ball, they will concede the goal.
“It is the game of politics after all,” Kazi Rakibuddin said.
“You can find examples of walkover victories in greater numbers in countries more developed than ours,” he added.
President Abdul Hamid on February 6 appointed a new commission led by former secretary KM Nurul Huda. The new Election Commission will take oath on February 15.
Nurul Huda will be assisted by former additional secretaries Mahbub Talukder and Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam, a former session’s judge and the first female election commissioner and Brigadier General (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.
Monday, June 22, 2026
