About Electoral System of Bangladesh

Number of Voters as on January 31, 2003

Division Name Number of voters as per the current voter list

Male voters Female voters Total

Rajshahi 96,90,112     94,46,606     1,91,36,718

Khulna 45,30,920     43,92,139     89,23,059

Barisal 26,78,290     25,09,613     51,87,903

Dhaka 1,25,42,234     1,13,67,734     2,39,09,968

Sylhet 23,97,073     23,63,325     47,60,398

Chittagong 74,43,238     68,90,286     1,43,33,524

Total 3,92,81,867     3,69,69,703    7,62,51,570

Extract From the Constitution:

PART VII

ELECTIONS

118.(1) There shall be an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of a Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any the President may from time time direct, and appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners ( if any) shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf, be made by the President.

(2) When the Election Commission consists of more than one person, the Chief Election Commissioner shall act as the chairman thereof.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution the term of office of an Election Commissioner shall be five years from the date on which he enters upon his office, and-

(a) a person who has held office as Chief Election Commissioner shall not be eligible for appointment in the service of the Republic;

(b) any other election Commissioner shall on ceasing to hold office as as such, be eligible for appointment as chief Election Commissioner but shall not be otherwise eligible for appointment in the service of the Republic.

(4) The Election Commission shall be independent in the exercise of its functions and subject only to this Constitution and any other law.

(5) Subject to the provisions of law made by Parliament, the conditions of service of Election Commissioners shall be such as the President may, by order, determine:

1Provideed that an Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like manner and on the like grounds as a judge of the [Supreme Court]

(6) An Election Commissioner may resign his office by writing under his hand address to the President.

119. 1[(1) The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for elections to the office of President and to Parliament and the conduct of such elections shall vest in the Election Commission which shall, in accordance with this Constitution and any other law-

(a) hold elections to the office of President;

(b) hold elections of members of Parliament;

(d) prepare electoral rolls for the purpose of elections to the office of President and to Parliament.]

(2) The Election Commission shall perform such functions, in addition to those specified in the foregoing clause, as may be prescribed by this Constitution or by any other law.

120. The President shall, when so requested by the Election Commission, make available to it such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of its functions under this Part.

121. There shall be one electoral roll for each constituency for the purpose of elections to Parliament, and no special electoral roll shall be prepared so as to classify electors according to religion, race caste or sex.

122. (1) The elections 2**** to Parliament shall be on the basis of adult franchise.

(2) A person shall be entitled to be enrolled on the electoral roll for a constituency delimited the purpose of election to Parliament, if he-

(a) is a citizen of Bangladesh;

(b) is not less than eighteen years of age;

(d) is or is deemed by law to be a resident of that constituency 2[.]

3* * * * *

4* * * * *

122. 5[(1) In the case of a vacancy in the office of President occurring by reason of the expiration of his term of office and election to fill the vacancy shall be held within the period of ninety to sixty days to the date of expiration of the term:

Provided that if the term expires before the dissolution of the Parliament by members of which he was elected the election to fill the vacancy shall not be held until after the next general election of members of Parliament, but shall be held within thirty days after the first sitting of Parliament following such general election.

(2) In the case of a vacancy in the office of President occurring by reason of the death, resignation or removal of the President, and election to fill the vacancy shall be held within the period of ninety days after the occurrence of the vacancy.]

(3) A general election of members of Parliament shall be held-

(a) in the case of a dissolution by reason of the expiration of its term, within the period of ninety days proceeding such dissolution; and

(b) in the case of a dissolution otherwise than by reason of such expiration, within ninety days after such dissolution:

Provided that the persons elected at a general election under sub-clause (a) shall not assume office as members of parliament except after the expiration of the term referred to therein.

(4) An election to fill the seat of a member of Parliament which falls vacant otherwise than by reason of the dissolution of Parliament shall be held within ninety days of the occurrence of the vacancy [:]

1[Provided that in case where, in the opinion of the Chief Election Commissioner, it is not possible, for reasons of an act of such election shall be held within ninety days following next after the last day of such period.]

2 [124. Subject to the provisions of this constitution, Parliament may by law make proven with respect o6 all matters relating to or in connection with elections to Parliament, including the delimitation of constituencies, the preparation of electoral rolls, the holding of elections, and all other matters necessary for securing the due Constitution of Parliament.]

125. Notwithstanding anything in this constitution-

(a) the validity of any law relating to the delimitation of constituencies, or the allotment of seats to such constituencies, made or purporting to be made under article 124, shall not be called in question in any court;

(b) no election to the [ offices of President ] or to Parliament shall be called in question except by an election petition presented to such authority and in such manner as may be provided for by or under any law made by Parliament.

126. It shall be the duty of all executive authorities to assist the election Commission in the discharge of its foundation.

1The colon was substituted for the full-stop at the end

lProclamation Order no 1 of 1977

1 Clause (1) was substituted for the former clause (1) by the Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Act, 1991 (Act XXVIII of 1991), s.12 (w.e.f 18-9-91).

2 The words "to the offices of President and Vice-President and" were omitted ibid., s.13 (w.e.f 18-9-91).

1 The word "and" was added by the Second Proclamation Order no. III of 1975.

2 The full-stop was substituted for the semi-colon and word, ibid

3 Sub-clause (e) was omitted, ibid

4 Clause (3) was omitted by the Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Act, 1991 (Act XXVIII of 1991), s.13 (w.e.f 18-9-91)

5 Clauses (1) and (2) were substituted for clauses (1), (2), (2A) and (2B), ibid, s. 14(a) (w.e.f 18-9-91)

1 The colon was substituted for the full-stop at the end of clause (4) and thereafter the proviso was added by the Constitution ( Twelfth Amendment) Act, 1991 (Act xxvlll of 1991 ), s. 14(b) (w.e.f. 16.3.91)

2 Article 124 was substituted for the former article 124 ibid. s. 15 9w.e.f.18.9.91)

3 The words ''Offices of President and Vice-President'' wre substituted for the words ''Office of President'' by the Constitution ( Ninth Amendment) Act, 1989(Act XXXVlll of 1989), s. 14.

4The words and Vice-President were omitted by the Constitution (Twelfth Amendment ) Act, 1991 (Act XXVlll of 1991), 16(w.e.f.18.9.91)