The Bangladesh Election Commission is established by the constitution to oversee elections. It consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and up to four other Commissioners appointed by the President. To be eligible to vote, one must be a Bangladeshi citizen over 18, of sound mind, a resident of the constituency, and not convicted of certain offenses. The Commission's powers and functions include conducting free and fair elections, implementing the electoral code of conduct, preparing voter rolls, delimiting constituencies, resolving disputes, overseeing candidate and party finances, registering parties, and limiting campaign spending. However, it faces challenges like ensuring a level playing field for all parties and gaining the trust of major political parties.

1. Presentation On
Bangladesh Election Commission
WELCOME TO
OUR
PRESENTATION

3. Establishment and Structure of EC
Article 118 of the constitution provides for the establishment of an Election Commission for
Bangladesh consisting of the chief election commissioner and not more the four(4) Election
Commissioners.The appointment of chief Election Commissoner and other Election
Commissioners(if any) is made by the president.When the Election Commission consists of more
than one person,the chief Election Commissioner is to act as it chairman.Under the constitution the
term of office of any Election Commissioner is five years from the date on which he enters upon
office.A person who has held office as chief Election Commissioner is not eligible for appointment in
the service of the republic.Any other Election Commissioner is on ceasing to hold such office
,eligible for appointment as chief Election Commissioner ,but is not eligible for appointment in the
service of the republic.
Qualifications For Registration as Voter
(1)The elections to Parliament shall be on the basis of adult franchise.
(2)A person shall be entitled to be enrolled as elector on the electoral roll for a constituency
delimited the purpose of election to Parliament, if he/she –
(a)Is a citizen of Bangladesh
(b)Is not less than eighteen years of age ;
(c)Does not stand declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind;
(d)Is or is deemed by law to be a resident of that constituency;and
(e)Has not been convicted of any offence under the Bangladesh Collaborators.

4. Power and Functions Of Election Commission:
1.Conducting Free and Fair Election
2.Electroal Code of Conduct and its
application
3.Preparation of Electoral Rolls
4.Delimtation of Electoral
Constituencies
5.Redressing Electoral Disputes
6.Scrutinizing Expediture statements of
Candidates and Parties

5. Power And Functions Conti…….
7.Registration of political parties
8.Limiting The Poll Expense
9.Prohibition on Publication
10.Quasi Judicial Functions
11.Disqualifying the Candidates
12.Allotment of Symbol

6. CHALLENGES OF ELECTION COMMISSION:
1.ENSURING LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL POLITICAL PARTIES DURING THE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
2.GAINING TRUST OF MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES
3.PARTISAN INFLUENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
4.LEGAL REFORMS
5.IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTION EAWS
6.CONTINUING INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

7. Recommendations:-
 Role of the Election Commission
 Gaining trust of all political parties
 Using Commission’s own manpower in conducting election
 Making election more technology based
 Performing regular activities of the commission
 Information disclosure
 Role of the Government
 Enactment of law regarding the appointment of the chief and other election
commissioners
 Legal reform to remove limitations of existing electoral laws

8. Recommendation Conti…
 Role of political party
 Disclosing finicial information of MPs
 Disclosure of financial information by Political Parties
 Practicing proper democratic culture
 Ensuring non-political local government election
 Role of the civil Society
 Civil Society works as a hard eye
 Rising awareness by doing seminar,symposium
 Civil Society can monitor Election Commission activities and make constructive
criticism
 Role Of the Media
 Disclosing electoral information

9. CHANGES AND INNOVATION OF EC
 Strengthening of ec
 Using computirized software
 Using transparent ballot box
 Financial statement of the candidates
 Introduction of voters identy cards
 Registration of political parties
 Responsibility for conducting upazila election by the ec
 Sources of financial strength of the political parties
 Process automation and web page with election data bank

10. ESSENTIALS OF FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS:
There are criteria of a free, fair and credible Election and having observed their existence in a country, one may
comment that The Election Commission and Election Process is free, fair and credible. These are given below:
1) Presence of legislative framework having run in conformity with the constitution,
2) The impartial and neutral full swing working of election administrators, the media both print and
electronic along with the active law enforcing agency.
3) Existence of the competitive electoral process and its acceptance by all the forces in the country. Here
forces means and include political parties, the armed forces, police, election adjudicating bodies, civil
society, organized and unorganized groups – must accept and support the process and not undermine it
through violence, intimidation or any other unlawful means.
4) The Election process should be out the range of fraud, violence and intimidation at any of the stages
critical to the electoral process. It should also free from chaotic and poorly organized leaving large
numbers of voters disenfranchised and confused about the process, issues and candidates.

11. Election Commission Controversy; Obstacles
before becoming free and fair election:
1.EC’s dependency to Government:
2.Arbitrary Appointment:
3.Election Disputes/Violence:
4.Members of Election Commission:

12. Last 10 Years Success of Election
Commission:
 Standerd or updated Voter List
 Smart Card or Digital National ID Card
 Computerized Data Base System
 Transparent Ballot Box
 Launching EVM