Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director and National Consensus Commission Member Dr Iftekharuzzaman on Friday said the upcoming national election faces a major challenge due to a three-way tug of crisis within the government’s administrative structure.

He noted that the bureaucracy currently comprises three types of officials—those loyal to the previous government, those long deprived of positions, and a handful of neutral officers—creating an institutional imbalance that could undermine prospects for a fair election.

“Free and impartial elections are impossible if political parties themselves are not committed to ensuring them. Apart from political will, the neutrality of election observers and the media is also crucial for a credible election,” he said.

He made the remarks while inaugurating an election training programme organized jointly by RFED, an election-focused journalists’ association, and TIB at the organisation’s Dhanmondi office.

Highlighting weaknesses in the administrative framework, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “Many officials loyal to the Awami League still hold their positions. The current interim government has to move toward the election while keeping these weaknesses in mind.”

He added that law enforcement agencies also reflect partisan bias, a structure that has evolved not just over the last 16 years but throughout the past 54 years.

“Those who were long deprived are now regaining ground, but even in that process, politicisation has been reinforced. Every institution has come under dual partisan influence, fueling professional conflicts. Only a handful of officers are genuinely trying to remain neutral,” he said.

The TIB chief said the administration is operating under the push and pull of these three forces, and it is neither possible to overhaul the structure overnight nor to completely reconstitute the bureaucracy.

However, he expressed hope that with stability and renewed professionalism, gradual changes could be achieved over time.