Former Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has admitted to overseeing a one-sided "dummy election" due to political deadlock but denied any involvement in corruption. He stated that he never accepted bribes during his tenure. He also criticized historical election irregularities, mentioning that even Sheikh Mujibur Rahman manipulated the 1973 polls. When asked about election officials receiving unusually high allowances, he evaded responsibility, stating, “When votes are cast at night, I’m usually fast asleep.”