A One-Man Organisation, Ten Thousand Election Observers, and a Suspended Decision: What Bangladesh’s Election Rules Actually Demand

 

Two recent news reports have triggered serious public concern regarding the integrity of Bangladesh’s election observation framework. One report revealed that a largely one-person-dependent NGO—People’s Association for Social Advancement (PASA)—was approved to deploy more than 10,000 domestic election observers nationwide. The second report confirmed that the Election Commission has since suspended the distribution of observer ID cards to the organisation pending further scrutiny.

These developments raise an unavoidable question:

Was the original approval consistent with Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) regulations, and what does this episode say about institutional accountability during a sensitive political transition?

What the Media Reports Established

Investigative reporting revealed that PASA operates from a single-room office that is effectively the private residence of its executive director. The organisation reportedly has no permanent staff structure, no ongoing projects, and no proven nationwide operational capacity, yet it received approval to deploy nearly one-fifth of all domestic election observers for the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum

Following public exposure and criticism, the Election Commission announced the temporary suspension of PASA’s observer card distribution, stating that further verification of the organisation’s capacity and credibility was required before allowing it to operate as an observer body

While the suspension is a corrective step, it also highlights serious weaknesses in the initial approval process.

What the Election Observation Guidelines 2025 Clearly Require

Under the Election Observation Guidelines 2025, the Bangladesh Election Commission sets out explicit standards for observer organisations:

• Observer organisations must be institutionally functional, organisationally structured, and operationally capable

• They must demonstrate governance mechanisms, approved constitutions, and identifiable leadership structures

• Observer deployment must be free from political affiliation, personal control, or conflicts of interest

• Observers must be trained, accountable, and bound by a code of conduct

The core purpose of election observation under these rules is not ceremonial presence but credible, professional, and independent assessment of the electoral process—before, during, and after voting

A one-man-dominated structure with no demonstrated logistical or training capacity fundamentallycontradicts both the letter and the spirit of these provisions.

Local Observer Recruitment Rules: Where Practice Fell Short

The Local Election Observer Recruitment Notice further reinforces these principles. It requires applicant organisations to demonstrate:

• A verifiable and functional office

• An approved executive committee

• Documented organisational activities

• No direct or indirect affiliation with political actors

• Full transparency regarding funding, training, and deployment plans

It also makes clear that false declarations or misrepresentations constitute grounds for cancellation of registration and legal action

The PASA case, therefore, exposes a troubling gap between regulatory standards on paper and administrative application in practice.

The Unavoidable Institutional Questions

This situation raises several legitimate and pressing questions:

• How did a structurally weak, individual-centric organisation pass initial vetting?

• Was due diligence conducted beyond paperwork submission?

• Did the approval process prioritise numerical deployment over qualitative credibility?

• Could such approvals inadvertently be used to manufacture a façade of electoral legitimacy?

These questions are not accusatory—they are essential for democratic accountability.

A Caution to the Interim Government and the Election Commission

Bangladesh is currently navigating a politically fragile transition. In such moments, institutions matter more than individuals, and process matters more than convenience.

Election observation is not a technical formality. It is a democratic safeguard. If compromised—whether by negligence, haste, or ill-judgment—it risks undermining public trust not only in the Election Commission, but in the electoral outcome itself.

The interim government and the Election Commission must therefore ensure that no individual-centric, capacity-deficient, or opaque organisation is allowed to function as a legitimising instrument under the banner of “observation.”

Corrective action after public exposure is necessary—but preventive diligence before approval is the true test of institutional integrity.

Conclusion: Rules Mean Nothing Without Ethical Enforcement

The PASA episode should serve as a wake-up call.

Bangladesh does not lack election laws, guidelines, or regulatory language. What it risks lacking—at critical moments—is consistent, ethical, and transparent enforcement.

A democratic state is not built merely by holding elections. It is built by how those elections are administered, observed, and defended against shortcuts.

If Bangladesh genuinely seeks to move toward a credible, accountable, and human-centred democratic order, then the Election Commission must reaffirm itself as the final guardian of electoral integrity—not a procedural rubber stamp.

Author:

Minhaz Samad Chowdhury

Independent Human Rights Defender

Focus: Democratic Accountability, Electoral Integrity & Rule of Law in Bangladesh