The recently held thirteenth general election, coupled with a nationwide referendum, has ignited intense political debate across the country. While the ‘Yes’ vote secured a majority at the national level, widespread discrepancies and apparent counting errors in several constituencies have raised serious public concern about the integrity of the process.
According to preliminary data released by the Election Commission, the country has a total of 127,720,334 registered voters. Approximately 60.26% of these voters participated in the referendum. Of the ballots cast, 48,074,429 were in favour (‘Yes’), 22,565,627 opposed (‘No’), and 7,020,285 were declared invalid or rejected.
However, anomalies in vote counting were reported in several constituencies. Notably, in Rajshahi-4, voter turnout was recorded at an implausible 244.295%, with 781,523 votes counted against 319,909 registered voters. The constituency reported 612,219 ‘No’ votes and 145,382 ‘Yes’ votes, resulting in Abdul Bari Sardar of Jamaat-e-Islami being elected as Member of Parliament.
Other irregularities include Sirajganj-1, where referendum participation was just 7.899%, despite a parliamentary election turnout of 60.83%. In Netrokona-3, 4, and 5, the number of ‘Yes’ votes reported exceeded the total number of registered voters.
Regional patterns also highlight significant variations. In the hill districts of Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Bandarban, as well as three constituencies in Gopalganj, ‘No’ votes dominated. In Gopalganj, the ‘No’ vote was nearly three times higher than ‘Yes’ votes.
The following table presents a summary of notable constituencies:
| District / Constituency | Yes Votes | No Votes | Registered Voters | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khagrachhari | 144,355 | 155,942 | 300,000+ | No votes lead |
| Rangamati | 112,204 | 120,310 | 250,000+ | No votes lead |
| Bandarban | 17,982 | 36,721 | 50,000+ | No votes lead |
| Gopalganj-1 | 54,716 | 128,298 | 200,000+ | No votes lead |
| Gopalganj-2 | 34,302 | 107,290 | 200,000+ | No votes lead |
| Gopalganj-3 | 33,498 | 93,368 | 150,000+ | No votes lead |
| Rajshahi-4 | 145,382 | 612,219 | 319,909 | Counting error |
| Netrokona-3 | 502,438 | – | 420,686 | Yes votes > registered voters |
| Netrokona-4 | – | – | – | Yes votes > registered voters |
| Netrokona-5 | – | – | – | Yes votes > registered voters |
Nationally, the ‘Yes’ vote accounted for 62.47%, and the ‘No’ vote for 29.32%. Partial corrections were applied in Rajshahi-4 and Sirajganj-1, but the inconsistencies in Netrokona remain unresolved.
The counting irregularities and regional disparities have cast doubts over the transparency and credibility of the referendum. Political analysts and citizen observers have called for a full review and enhanced oversight, emphasising that restoring confidence in the electoral process is crucial.
In summary, while the ‘Yes’ camp emerged victorious at the national level, ballot miscounts and local irregularities have significantly undermined the perceived legitimacy of the referendum.