Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman has described the recently concluded national election as “acceptable,” calling it fair, competitive, participatory, and inclusive.

He made the remark in a press conference at the MIDAS centre in the capital’s Dhanmondi area this morning.
Responding to a question, Dr Iftekharuzzaman explained that although the Awami League had announced a boycott and vowed to resist the polls, its grassroots leaders and activists remained active. 

“Most of the grassroots activists of the Awami League worked actively for various participating parties. The majority of them voted for BNP, Jamaat, or other parties. In that sense, the election was inclusive”, he said.

He also noted that, despite the party officially declaring the election illegal, a substantial number of its grassroots workers and supporters still took part as voters.

Regarding allegations of election manipulation, the TIB executive director said, “There was no election engineering. Nothing happened that would suggest election engineering took place.”