Thursday, 20th August 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 6th January 2026, 9:04 PM
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has issued a stinging rebuke of the Election Commission (EC), labelling the decision to fund the hospitality of foreign observers as “short-sighted, discriminatory, and a conflict of interest.” In a formal statement released on Tuesday, 6 January, the anti-corruption watchdog argued that the move undermines the very neutrality required for credible election monitoring.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, expressed astonishment at the Commission’s inability to recognise the inherent bias in its proposal. He questioned the logic of providing high-end accommodation and meals to international delegates while offering no such provisions for domestic observers.
“The Election Commission’s reckless decision to bear the expenses of foreign observers—under the flimsy pretext of increasing electoral acceptability—is bound to be counterproductive,” Dr Iftekharuzzaman stated. He noted that such a policy risks turning independent monitors into “mercenaries,” as their reliance on the EC’s hospitality creates a fundamental conflict of interest.
The watchdog highlighted several critical areas where the EC’s decision fails to meet international standards of transparency:
| Objection Category | TIB’s Core Argument |
|---|---|
| Neutrality | Hospitality creates a “debt of gratitude,” compromising impartial assessment. |
| Discrimination | Unfair treatment of local monitors compared to international counterparts. |
| Ethical Standards | Observers must evaluate the EC itself; they cannot do so while on the EC’s payroll. |
| Historical Context | Prior to 2008, credible elections did not require state-funded propaganda. |
| Public Mandate | The spirit of the July Uprising demands genuine, not “purchased,” transparency. |
TIB further directed sharp questions toward the potential observers themselves, asking on what ethical grounds they could justify accepting funds from the very government they are meant to scrutinise. Dr Iftekharuzzaman urged international monitors to decline the EC’s offer to maintain their professional integrity.
Drawing comparisons to the controversial elections of 2018 and 2024, TIB reminded the current Commission that previous attempts by the “fallen regime” to buy international legitimacy through similar perks had failed miserably. The statement concluded by urging the Commission to honour the public’s desire for a truly free and fair election—born from the July mass uprising—rather than resorting to deceptive practices that cloud the democratic process.
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