The launching ceremony of a book titled ‘Democracy in South Asia: Election and Election Commission’ was held at the Dhaka Liaison Office of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur on Sunday. The book edited by edited by Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah and Dr Saber Ahmed Chowdhury, is expected to influence democratic institutional development of this region.
As the chief guest of the event, Dr Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir, MP, former Home Minister shared the expectation that this book would be a resource for the decision makers towards institutional initiatives for democratic development in South Asia. Admiring the chapter discussing electoral system of India, Dr. Alamgir opined that the system and practices of Indian election could be an example to be followed by other countries of this region. He has also asked for further research investigating the issues of pre-election observation and exit pole as two crucial factors in promoting the culture of democracy and transparency of election.
Dr AKM Reazul Hasan, member of NCTB, has identified this book as a milestone and a guiding material for some South Asian countries whose democratic systems 
are fragile. Dr Shuchita Sharmin, Professor, Development Studies, University of Dhaka, acclaimed the book for its research value as well as its choice of language because of Bangla’s ability to reach a large number of people in South Asia. Dr M Abul Kashem Mozumder, pro-vice Chancellor of BUP and Ritu Kundu, Assistant Professor at the department of Public Administration, Jagannath University shared their experience from writer’s perspective in the process of writing this book.
The Daily New Nation, Daily Vorer Pata, Dainik Lal Shobujer Desh and People’s Times were the media partner of this event.
This book evaluates the role of election management bodies in South Asian countries. This book is written not only for those who research on election and related issues but also for all the readers who have interests in the issues of election and democracy. The researchers and students can find it as a valuable reference book on election and democracy in South Asia. South Asia shares the global phenomenon of diversity in the system of people’s representation. Though majoritarian system is prominent, countries of this region also have proportional representation and mixed representation systems. This book makes some pinpoint analyses of these systems and the way EMBs can manage these. The book is published by Shilpoishi (330, Dhaka University Market, Kataban, Dhaka, 01610127467) and distributed by A H Development Publishing House (143, New Market, Dhaka, 01715022927), Purba Publications (Dhaka, 01712714187), and Prokriti (Kataban, Dhaka, 01727328723).
Editors of this book are internationally esteemed researchers. Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah is currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur with the rank of Grade-1 Professor. He is the founder and chairman of JANIPOP-Jatiya Nirbachan Parjabekkhan Parishad. Dr Saber Ahmed Chowdhury is an Associate Professor at the department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Dhaka. He also serves as a divisional coordinator of JANIPOP.
Dr M Abul Kashem Mozumder wrote a chapter in this book. Dr Mozumder is currently serving as the Pro-vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Professionals. He is an author of 13 books and more than 120 articles published covering different issues of politics and public administration. Moreover, he edited 13 more books and contributed as author and co-author in those books. Others contributors of this book Ritu Kundu, Assistant Professor, Public Administration, Jagannath University; Dewan Nusrat Jahan, Assistant Professor, Public Administration, Jagannath University; Mohammad Main Uddin, lecturer, International Relations, Bangladesh University of Professionals; Muhammad Mujahidul Islam, Lecturer, Public Administration, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur; M M Asaduzzaman Nour, Assistant Professor, Public Administration, Bangladesh University of Professionals; Mohammad Mahfujur Rahman, Lecturer, Bangladesh University of Professionals; Taha Hussain, Lecturer, Gender and Development Studies, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur; Md. Habibur Rahman, M Phil Research Fellow, Dr. Wazed Research and Training Institute, BRUR,; Taposhi Rabeya, Lecturer, Philosophy, Jatiya KabiKazi Nazrul Islam University etc.
