Jamaat calls for wholesale administrative shake-up after announcement of election schedule

Jamaat-e-Islami has called for all deputy commissioners and police superintendents across Bangladesh to be transferred simultaneously once the Election Commission (EC) formally announces the schedule for the upcoming national polls.

At a dialogue with the EC in Dhaka on Wednesday, the party said recent reshuffles in the civil administration and police “appear to be happening from a particular place with a specific intention”, raising concerns about neutrality ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

Jamaat leaders said that after the schedule is issued, the administrative authority at the district level comes under the EC’s control, and therefore, a full overhaul is needed to restore public confidence.

They also proposed that such transfers be conducted through a lottery system if necessary to eliminate political influence.

The meeting was attended by representatives from seven parties, including Jamaat and the National Citizen Party (NCP). Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, election commissioners and the EC secretary were present.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar told the commission that senior officials had been moved, reports bdnews24.com.

“These changes didn’t happen over a month, not even 20 days. It seems as though this is being done according to a plan, from a specific place, with a purpose.”

He added that similar mass transfers had taken place immediately after the announcement of the schedule in past elections, and the decisions had been accepted without complaint.

Urging the EC to take immediate action, he said: "What is happening appears planned and intentional.”

Raising the issue of the absence of any discussion on a referendum for expatriate postal voting and the proposed Code of Conduct, the Jamaat leader said that under the July Charter, organising and publicising the referendum is also the EC’s responsibility. He said the commission must disclose its plans for handling referendum ballots alongside parliamentary election ballots.

He also demanded the deployment of the Army at polling centres.

“Not just one soldier -- it would be better if four or five Army personnel could be deployed at each centre,” he said.