‘Role in 2018 polls’: Govt to act against all 64 ex-SPs, says Advisor Asif

All 64 police officials who served as Superintendents of Police (SPs) during the controversial 2018 “night-time election” will be forced to retire or be made Officers on Special Duty (OSD), an advisor has announced. An SP heads a district's police force.

Asif Mahmood Shojib Bhuiyan announced this on Friday, a day after the government took similar action against former deputy commissioners who served as returning officers in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 national elections. 

In the 2014 parliamentary election, half of the candidates were elected unopposed after the main opposition BNP and other parties boycotted. 

The 2018 general election, dubbed the “night vote,” saw ballot boxes stuffed at night before voting began, sparking widespread criticism. All registered parties participated in the election. 

The January 2024 national election was again boycotted by the BNP and other major parties. In this election, most candidates represented the then-ruling Awami League, running as either party nominees or independents.