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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 46317, member: 636"] Former Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal told a Dhaka court he ran a fake election last year. The official admitted the 2024 vote was one-sided because political parties could not agree. He denied taking any money or bribes for his actions. Awal said he never took part in financial crimes during his career. The court hearing lasted about 30 minutes before judges made their decision. Police brought the 70-year-old man to court around midday after his arrest from Moghbazar area. Prosecutors claimed Awal promised former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a victory in exchange for payments. The government lawyer demanded punishment to prevent future corrupt election officials. Defense attorneys asked for bail because of the defendant's age. Court officials rejected the bail request and approved three days of police custody. Awal told the magistrate he was sleeping when workers sealed ballot boxes at night. He said he knew nothing about claims that election workers received extra money. The former commissioner questioned which Bangladesh election had ever been truly fair. He mentioned that even Sheikh Mujib used vote rigging in 1973 elections. Awal predicted no honest elections would happen under political governments for the next thousand years. A BNP party member filed charges against three former election commissioners from recent elections. Police already arrested another former commissioner named KM Nurul Huda last Sunday. The third accused official remains free and has not been caught. Authorities continue searching for the missing election leader. [/QUOTE]

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