Chapter 8

Democracy and
Election System
of
Bangladesh
 What is Democracy
It is a political system that gives power
to the people. It is such a system of
government in which the citizens
exercise power directly or elect
representatives from among themselves
to form a governing body, like
parliament. Democracy is sometimes
referred to as “rule of the majority”.
“Democracy is the government of the
people, by the people, for the people”
– Abraham Lincoln
Types of Democracy
There are two types of democracy: (1) Pure or Direct,
and (2) Indirect or Representative.
[Link] Democracy: - When the people themselves
directly express their will on public affairs, the type
of government is called pure or direct democracy.
Direct Democracy was established in ancient Greek
city-states. This system now prevails only in
Switzerland and Estonia.
 Types of Democracy
[Link] or Indirect Democracy: In Indirect Democracy
the government is formulated and expressed not directly by
the people themselves, but by their representatives to whom
they delegate the works of government and decision-making.
This type of government was established in England in the
seventeenth century. In France, it was established in 1830 and
in Italy in 1948. Today this system is seen in many countries like
Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Canada, Australia, New-
Zealand, the United States of America, Germany, Italy, France,
Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Belgium etc.
 Types of Democracy
[Link] or Indirect Democracy: In Indirect Democracy
the government is formulated and expressed not directly by
the people themselves, but by their representatives to whom
they delegate the works of government and decision-making.
This type of government was established in England in the
seventeenth century. In France, it was established in 1830 and
in Italy in 1948. Today this system is seen in many countries like
Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Canada, Australia, New-
Zealand, the United States of America, Germany, Italy, France,
Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Belgium etc.
Merits of Democracy
 Responsible and accountable Government
 Equality and common interest
 Self-government
 Development and prosperity for all
 Little chance of revolution
 Sense of cooperation and we-feeling
 Change of power
 Equal and fair justice
 Nationalism and Patriotism
 Stability and responsibility in administration
 Political education to the people
Demerits of Democracy
 Indirect or representative
 Lack of educated and experienced voters
 Bureaucracy and delay in decision making process
 Corruption
 Divide and rule
 Addiction for power
 Voters do not take interest in election
 Democracy is a government of the rich
 Misuse of public funds and time
 No stable government
 Dictatorship of majority
 Democracy of Bangladesh
Since independence in 1971, democracy has been in crisis in
Bangladesh. The country was born out of a long democratic
movement initially aimed at achieving autonomy for the rights of
the majority population of East-Pakistan. Towards the end of
this movement almost the entire population of Bangladesh was
drawn in an armed struggle to establish their rights of self-
determination as guaranteed in the charter of the United
Nations and finally, in 1971, the independence came and thus
people hoped for the real journey of democracy. Unfortunately,
the journey still didn’t begin properly.
Present features of Bangladesh Democracy
 Absence of democratic political culture
 Lack of choice for voters for suitable representatives
 Blind following of two signs
 Corrupted govt. officials
 Lack of independence of media and justice department
 Lack of freedom of people to express opinions freely
 Lack of reliability of common people on government
 People’s welfare is considered last
 Controversial Election Commission
 Tradition of family ruling in major political parties
 Dictatorship of one person
 The chart of Bangladesh’s Parliament

No of 1st- 2nd- 3rd- 4th- 5th- 6th- 7th- 8th- 9th-

Parlia- Parlia Parlia- Parlia- Parlia- Parlia- Parlia- Parlia- Parlia- Parlia-
ment ment ment ment ment ment ment ment ment ment

YEAR 1973 1979 1986 1988 1991 1996 1996 2001 2008

PARTY AL BNP JP JP BNP BNP AL BNP AL

The chart of Bangladesh’s Parliament

No of 10th- 11th -
Parliament Parliament Parliament

YEAR 2014 2018

PARTY AL AL
Political Parties
“A political party consists In general sense, a political
of a group of citizens party can be defined as an
more or less organized, organized group of people
who act as a political unit, that tries to undertake state
and who by use of voting power in a lawful manner by
power, aims to control the publicizing their political
government and carry out manifesto and by forming
their general policies.” public opinion.

– Professor Getel
Objectives of Political Parties
 To identify the problems of the country, to make programs
and policies accordingly and to implement them by united
efforts.
 To create public support by placing the development
policies and plans before the public.
 To achieve national progress and development by
implementing the policies and programs of the party
considering the national interest above all.
 To capture political power by constitutional means and to
establish political dominance on others.
Role of Political Parties in Democratic System
 Determination of policies and programs: A political party
formulates policies and programs in the light of its ideology and
social, economical and political problems of the county. These
policies and programs are made in the form of a manifesto.
 Formation of public opinion: Political parties publish and
announce their programs through newspapers and various
campaigns and seminars. It helps the people to form public opinion
on various political issues.
 Selection of candidates and election campaign: Political party
nominates qualified persons to contest the election and election
conduct campaigns widely in favour of the nominated candidates.
 Political teaching: By comparing and criticizing of the manifesto
of different political parties people gather political knowledge.
Role of Political Parties in Democratic System
 Formation of Government: In parliamentary system of Government the
party which secures majority seats in the election forms the Government
and run the country according to their political ideology.
 Constructive opposition: By constructive criticism opposition parties
cheek the tendency towards despotism of the party in power and keep it
accountable.
 Communication between individuals and Government: The members
of political parties explain government policies in their respective areas.
On the other hand, they try to ventilate the problems of the people to the
government. In this way political parties maintain communication between
people and Government.
 Organize movements for establishing rights and freedom: Political
parties organize movements for regional autonomy in a free country and
for freedom in a country under foreign rule. For example, The Muslim
League launched the movement for achieving Pakistan and the Awami
League for the independence of Bangladesh.
Notable Political Parties of Bangladesh
Major Parties Minor Parties
Bangladesh Awami League Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Jatiya Party (Manju)

Jatiya Party (Ershad) Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB)

Krishak Sramik Janata League

Workers Party of Bangladesh

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jatiya Party – BJP

Gano Forum
The Relationship between Democracy and Election
 In democracy, people exercise their democratic rights by
participating in the election and casting their votes.
 In this process, the people may elect honest and competent
representative on the basis of their evaluation, and the
government is formed and run by those who are elected with
the mandate of the people.
 The people may discard the previous government if the
government loses the trust of the people ignores the interest or
opinion of the people. The people give a strict reply through
the election.
 Thus the sovereignty of the people is exercised through the
election.
System of Election
What is Election:
 Election is a process through which the representatives
are elected from more than one candidate of different
parties in order to govern the country on behalf of the
people.
 In Bangladesh, the parliament election is held at
national level.
 Almost in every country, the election is held by ballot.
Who are Voters:
 The citizens who have legal rights to vote are called
voters or electors.
System of Election
What is Constituency:
 During the time of election the whole country is
divided into many smaller areas known as
constituencies. Each constituency elects its
representative, and the Legislative Assembly is
formed with the elected representatives.
 The total areas of Bangladesh have been divided
into 300 constituencies for the electoral
convenience.
Methods of Election
Usually two methods of election are followed all over the
world:
 Direct election: When the primary voters directly elect
their representative by casting their votes is called direct
election. Example - election of the members of Jatiya
Sangsad in Bangladesh.
 Indirect election: Indirect election is a process where
primary voters elect an intermediate body known as
Electoral College by electing representative directly.
That electoral body finally elects the representatives.
Example- the president in USA elected indirectly.
Election Commission
 The Election Commission possesses the responsibility to hold
different elections in Bangladesh as an independent,
unrestricted and neutral institution.
 Election Commission consists of a Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) and some other Election
Commissioners.
 The President appoints the Chief and other Election
Commissioners. The Chief Election Commissioner acts as
the Chairman of the commission.
 The tenure of the Commission is five years. They may be
removed from their post for insubordination and inability.
The Commissioners may submit resignation to the President
also.
Jurisdictions & Functions of Election Commission
 Declaring the time for holding the election and the 'election
schedule'.
 The compilation of the voter list.
 Determination of boundary of the constituencies.
 Appointing the Returning officers, Polling officers Presiding and
assistant presiding officers.
 Distributing, receiving and sorting out of the nomination
papers.
 Distribution of the symbols among the candidates.
 Printing and distributing ballot papers.
 Establishment of vote centers.
Jurisdictions & Functions of Election Commission
 Conducting the by-elections if any dispute arises
regarding the eligibility of any member of the
parliament.
 Making arrangements to elect the President by the
members of the Parliament as per the constitution.
 Computing votes and declaring the results of the
election in a formal manner.
 Solving all kinds of disputes regarding the above matter
in accordance with the constitution and the law.
The Electoral Codes of Conduct
 All concerned will enjoy the equal rights in electoral
campaign. No bar should be put to any meeting,
procession or campaign.
 Without the permission of the authority public meeting must
not be held on any road or highway by creating
obstruction to the movement of the people.
 No candidate will contribute or promise to give any aid
openly or secretly to any institution in his constituency after
the declaration of election schedule.
 The police authority must be informed against the man
who puts obstruction in meeting or procession. Law should
not be taken in their own hand.
The Electoral Codes of Conduct
 No political party or candidate will use any government
leaflets, vehicles, or receive help from any public officer
or employee or enjoy any national opportunity.
 No opposite candidate will attach poster, leaflet and
handbill over the same of the other candidates.
 No electoral camp can be set up on the street or road.
 No government Bungalow, circuit house, rest house and
govt. offices shall be used as a place of election
activities for any party or candidate.
 All concerned shall abstain from wall writing in any form.
The Electoral Codes of Conduct
 No entry with motor cycle, mechanical vehicles into the fixed
limit around the polling booth. And carrying any kinds of
firearms and explosives is legally punishable.
 No influential individual or public officer shall exercise illegal
interference to the electoral functions.
 Bitter or instigating speech which hurt the religious feeling must
not be delivered.
 No electoral functions shall be influenced by money/bribe,
arms, muscle-power or local influence.
 Only electoral officers, employees, candidates, electoral
agents and voters will be able to enter the pooling booth. The
workers of any candidate or party must not roam around in
the voting center.
Offences regarding Electoral Codes
In accordance with the Representation of the People Order
1972, Electoral Offences and their penalties have been defined.
Offences are mentioned hereunder:
 To violate the rules relating to election expenses.
 To receive any bribe or gives, offers or promises any
gratification.
 To cast false vote or with false name.
 To influence the election unfairly, to collect votes forcibly or to
causes bar to voting.
 To tell lies about the character of a candidate or his relatives.
 To speak for or against a candidate in casting vote, on the
issue of his caste, religion or principle.
Penalty for Violation of Electoral Codes
 Imprisonment for a term which may be extended to
10 years and shall not be less than two years along
with fine.
 Case may be filed at the court for such election
related offences.
 But no case can be filed against the Electoral
Officer-in- Charges, employees without permission
from the Election Commission in writing.
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