Upazila election officers have declared that they will not take responsibility for the past three national parliamentary elections held in 2014, 2018, and 2024.
The statement was made on Saturday during the general meeting of the Upazila, Thana, and Equivalent Election Officers’ Association at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Ashfakur Rahman, convener of the association, said that the officers themselves are frustrated over being unable to perform properly in the elections.
“We were never in the primary position of responsibility during the 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections. Why should we take the blame for these polls when we were not the main authorities?” he asked.
He added, “Through the Election Commission, we want to inform the nation that if we are allowed to perform our duties properly, we will take responsibility. But if we are not given the proper authority to do our work, the responsibility cannot lie with us.”
Ashfakur Rahman emphasized the central role of the Upazila election office in organizing elections. “We complete all kinds of tasks at the Upazila level. We are not robots. Yet, all responsibilities and liabilities are imposed on us. We have been deprived of our due for years,” he said.
He called for the rapid issuance of the Election Commission Amendment Ordinance 2025 and the formation of the Election Service Commission in line with the Election Commission Reform Commission’s recommendations.
Ashfakur Rahman also urged that the Upazila election officer’s post be upgraded to Grade 6, assistant election officers’ posts to Grade 9, double-cabin vehicles be provided for Upazila election officers, and motorcycles be allocated for assistant officers.
He also demanded the repeal of the law transferring national ID card services to the Ministry of Home Affairs, calling it a “fascist government’s black law.”
“We want a free, fair, and transparent election. We hope the Election Commission will understand our needs and cooperate with us so that we can organize elections properly,” Ashfakur Rahman added.
The meeting also included a welcome speech by association secretary Md. Yausuf-ur Rahman.
