[1][2] On 9 February 2012, Ali was appointed Election Commissioner of Bangladesh by the Awami League government.

[8][9] The Awami League won more than half the seats uncontested due to the opposition boycott.

[11] In November 2016, Ali and other commissioners apologized unconditionally to the Bangladesh High Court for not taking notice of complaints by hundreds of candidates in local elections.

[12] Ali served as the Election Commissioner of Bangladesh till 9 February 2017 when he was replaced by Brigadier General Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.

[13] Ali and the rest of the commissioner defended their actions holding the 2014 Bangladeshi general election which was boycotted by all major opposition parties and saw the Awami League re-elected.