In the report, the government has mentioned the amendments brought in the Constituency Delimitation Act-2021, Election Commission Appointment Act-2022 and Parliament Election (EVM) Guidelines-2018, Rules of Conduct of Political Parties and Candidates-2008 and Rules of Conduct. of political parties and candidates to strengthen the electoral system.
The government has claimed that the Election Commission Appointment Act is free from any kind of bias and will ensure the formation of an efficient Election Commission and is the first Act of its kind in the subcontinent. Noting that the Representation of the People Order, 1972 ensures the full authority of the Election Commission over the executive during elections, the report said the Commission has conducted a total of 6,842 national and local elections since 2018. The report provided no explanation regarding allegations of irregularities in the elections, particularly allegations of stuffing of ballot boxes on the night before voting day for the 11th parliamentary elections in 2018.
The report also mentions strengthening of the Supreme Court, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Law Commission. It said nine judges were appointed to the Appellate Division of the SC and 36 judges were appointed to the High Court Division and a total of 321,450 cases were disposed of between 2017 and 2022.
Bangladesh has been ranked lowest in the World Justice Project index and many international organizations and countries have consistently talked about the authority of Bangladesh’s executive over the judiciary.