Bangladesh Election Commission
The Bangladesh Election Commission, abbreviated and publicly referred to as EC, is an independent constitutional body that operates the legal functions of election laws in Bangladesh.
Article 118 of the Bangladeshi Constitution allows the commission to be formed consisting of a Chief Election Commissioner alongside a number of assisting Election Commissioners under permission granted by the President of Bangladesh.
Structure
The appointment of the chief election commissioner of Bangladesh and other election commissioners is made by the president. When the election commission consists of more than one person, the chief election commissioner is to act as its 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.History
The Election Commission was formed on 23 March 1956 as the Election Commission of Pakistan, and after Bangladesh Liberation War, it has been restructured, reformed and renamed in 1972 to its present from.Functions and powers
Powers of the Election Commission : The Election Commission is an independent constitutional body in the exercise of its functions and subject only to the Constitution and any other law. The Commission may authorize its chairman or any of its members or any of its officers to exercise and perform all or any of its powers and functions under the law. Article 126 of the constitution and Articles 4 and 5 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 provide that it shall be the duty of all executive authorities to assist the election commission in the discharge of its functions. The commission has the power to require any person or authority to perform such functions or render such assistance for the purpose of election as it may direct.Guardian of free and fair elections
It oversees government elections parliamentary elections and local elections) as well as referendums throughout Bangladesh. Established by the 1972 Constitution, the Election Commission has extensive powers to manage, oversee, and regulate the electoral process.Registration of political parties
A law regarding this registration process was enacted in 2008 and number of parties got registered with the commission. It helps to avoid confusion and headache of the administrative machinery as well as confusion of the electorate. It ensures that political parties can practice democracy only by their registration.The commission has the power to investigate the finances and donor lists of all political parties.
Prohibition on publication
The commission can issue an order for the prohibition of publication and disseminating of results of opinion polls or exit polls to prevent influencing the voting trends in the electorate.Quasi judicial powers
The commission has quasi-legal powers as a law enforcement agency to investigate and indict those who compromise election laws through bribery, corruption, vote buying, or blackmail.Secretariat
Central
Bangladesh Election Commission has its own secretariat as per the Election Commission Secretariat Act 2009, which is headed by a secretary. The secretariat is located at Agargaon in Dhaka city and has Electoral Training Institutes and field offices at the Regional, District and Upazila/Thana levels. Functions of the Election Commission Secretariat is to execute the decisions and orders of the commission.The present secretary of the election commission is Shafiul Azim.