Bangladesh’s Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has launched an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the last three general elections and has requested detailed information on thousands of polling officials who administered the votes in 2014, 2018, and 2024.

In a letter signed by Monir Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the Election Commission’s Election Support Branch, and dispatched on Sunday (July 20), the Commission instructed all Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to urgently collect and forward the information to the EC Secretariat.

The move follows the filing of a case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on 22 June, in which several sections of the Bangladesh Penal Code were invoked, including those related to criminal conspiracy, fraud, breach of trust, and election-related misconduct. 

The case reference is Case No. 11, GR No. 156/2025, under sections 120B, 109, 171B, 171D, 171G, 171H, 171I, 124A, 406, and 420.

To assist with the investigation, the PBI has requested a comprehensive list of officials involved in the 10th (2014), 11th (2018), and 12th (2024) parliamentary elections, including, assistant returning officers (usually UNOs and senior bureaucrats), presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers (drawn from various public offices and educational institutions). 

The Election Commission has asked local administrators to provide polling centre–wise data on these officials, including, full name, name of father and mother, permanent and current address, national ID number, passport number (if available), and mobile phone number.

The EC deemed the data collection process “urgent” and necessary for the PBI to conduct a fair and thorough investigation into claims of election manipulation.

This is the first publicly confirmed institutional probe into the conduct of polling officials across three consecutive general elections, all of which have drawn domestic and international criticism for allegations of vote rigging and state interference. 
SMS/