Dhaka, June 26 -- Former chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has said fair elections in Bangladesh would remain impossible "even after a thousand years" without fundamental reforms.

He made the remarks during a remand hearing on Thursday at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrates' Court, where the prosecution sought 10 days for questioning him in a case involving charges including sedition.

The hearing began around 1:25pm after Awal was brought to the court under police custody. Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi represented the state and argued in favour of the remand application.

Faruqi criticised Awal for presiding over the Jan 7, 2024, elections, which were widely condemned as sham polls that ex...