Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad served as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Bangladesh from 2012 to 2017. During his time, the 2014 national election was widely called a “fake” and “mockery of democracy” because the main opposition parties and many popular leaders did not take part, and ordinary people couldn’t really exercise their voting rights.

Similar complaints were made about the national elections in 2018 and 2024 as well. In both cases, many key opposition figures didn’t participate, and most voters felt they couldn’t truly cast their votes.

Because of this, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and other election commissioners involved in these three controversial elections are now facing legal cases for treason and fraud. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Minister Obaidul Quader have also been named as accused in the case.