Parliamentary By-Election in Bangladesh: The Study of Bhola-3 Constituency

Md. Masud Sarker, AGM Niaz Uddin, Md. Bayezid Alam

Abstract


This analytical study based on the secondary sources examines the nature of the by-election in the Bhola-3 constituency held on April 24, 2010. The ruling party Awami League (AL) took this by-election as a prestige issue and chance for a renewed mandate in favour of the Hasina government, while the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) plan was to create an issue by saying that the by-election was rigged. The Election Commission (EC) and the ruling party clamed that the poll was free and fair, while the BNP rejected the electoral outcome for widespread corruption. The analysis shows that the election was not free, fair and peaceful and the role of EC was controversial. The EC didn’t deploy the army, although BNP demanded this several times to maintain law and order. Moreover, the EC didn’t take any action against the violation of electoral laws by the ruling party’s candidate. Widely shared anecdotal evidence of voter intimidation and physical violence besmirched the election.

Key words: By-election; AL; BNP; Election Commission


Keywords


By-election; AL; BNP; Election Commission

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.hess.1927024020130401.1138

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