EC's indifference raising doubts about fairness: SHUJAN

Despite numerous complaints filed by the candidates and their political parties about irregularities and breach of electoral codes ahead of the forthcoming UP polls, the Election Commission (EC) is turning a blind eye to these pressing issues, causing a recurrence of violence in rural areas, alleged Shushashoner Janney Nagarik (SHUJAN) yesterday at a press conference styled "Call for Holding a Fair, Neutral and Acceptable Union Parishad Election," at Sagor-Runi auditorium in the Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the capital.

SHUJAN, an organisation that promotes good governance, said the EC remained inactive regarding taking actions against the alleged perpetrators, and observed that the people were doubtful if the polls would be free and fair.

"The legal, ethical, neutral and bold role of the EC can ensure a fair, neutral and peaceful election," said a written statement of SHUJAN, read out by the organisation's Central Coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarkar at the press conference.

"If the EC can take necessary preparations and proper steps, taking lessons from its past experiences, many unexpected incidents may be avoided. But we are frustrated over the EC's reluctance in this regard," it added.

The EC has already declared that it will not take any allegation into its consideration if none submits complaints, said the statement, alleging that the EC is not taking any action despite it receiving multiple complaints.

The polls will be held in six phases on partisan lines for the first time in the country with the first phase starting on March 22 in 752 UPs.

"We have been telling that the elections to the local government institutions should not be held based on partisan lines. Our argument is that the negative effect of the political corruption will spread out at rural level due to such an electoral system," it mentioned.

SHUJAN's Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar alleged that the candidates were encountering impediments to submitting their nomination papers, but the EC was not taking any action.

These incidents have raised concerns over the polls' fairness, he said, questioning the EC's ability and neutrality in holding a peaceful election.

SHUJAN's President M Hafiz Uddin Khan, also former caretaker government advisor, claimed that no elections since 2014 have been free and fair under the current EC.

"The government has a crucial role in holding a free and fair election for the sake of effective democracy, but it does not discharge the duties meaningfully," Hafiz observed.