Dhaka, Sept. 19 -- 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...