A recent report by the Tech Global Institute (TGI) has raised concerns about the potential impact on Bangladesh’s electoral integrity due to vulnerabilities in critical digital systems. The report, titled “Hijacking the Vote: Inside Bangladesh’s Data-Driven Election Manipulation,” highlights the evolving nature of election-related fraud, moving beyond traditional methods to more sophisticated data-driven practices involving apps, dashboards, and the national identity database.
According to the study, weaknesses have been identified in Bangladesh’s national identity system, the Postal Vote BD app, digital result management, and other election-related digital mechanisms. TGI warns that if these vulnerabilities are not addressed, there could be a significant erosion of voter confidence and trust in the electoral process.
Fowzia Afroz, TGI’s Country Head for Bangladesh, emphasized that the digital infrastructure’s vulnerabilities in Bangladesh have increased the risks of election manipulation. She pointed out instances where candidates contacted voters directly via mobile phones, raising concerns about unauthorized access to personal information from official databases.
The report also highlights concerns about the national identity database’s security, with nearly 180 entities having access to it for verification purposes. TGI warns that this broad access could be exploited for political gains, allowing candidates or parties to identify absent or deceased voters for potential fraudulent activities.
Additionally, the report raises issues regarding postal voting for expatriate Bangladeshis, citing that existing weaknesses in the digital ecosystem could impact the integrity of the postal voting process and fuel public skepticism.
Digital result management, specifically through the Smart Election Management BD app, is flagged as another area of concern due to questions about transparency in data verification and display. The report underscores the importance of addressing operational vulnerabilities to prevent undermining confidence in preliminary election results.
Furthermore, the report highlights the need for clear legal guidelines and operational protocols for the planned installation of CCTV cameras in polling centers to avoid unintended consequences related to voter privacy and electoral transparency.
Based on the analysis of data from the 2024 election, the report identifies patterns indicating potential vulnerabilities in the electoral process that could be exploited through digital systems. To mitigate these risks, TGI offers ten recommendations, including strengthening access controls for the national identity database, implementing public audit trails for digital result reporting, and enhancing the legal framework governing the use of CCTV footage for electoral purposes.
