Intra-party democracy essential for credibility

Democratic practice inside parties and an improved political culture are the pre-requisites for holding credible elections to local government institutions in a partisan manner, experts and elected public representatives said at a views-exchange meeting yesterday.

There is also need for a stronger Election Commission, a revision of party constitutions, and specific guidelines for the partisan poll, they told the meeting at Jatiya Press Club, organised by Governance Advocacy Forum (GAF) with support from Manusher Jonno Foundation

"We are in favour of partisan local government polls... It is not acceptable that this system will be introduced partially. It will not bring any benefit," said GAF Chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad.

According to the Local Government (Municipality) Amendment Act-2015, only mayoral hopefuls can contest on political parties' ticket, but councillor candidates cannot.

Presenting a paper, GAF Coordinator Mohsin Ali said development and democratic practices in rural areas would be accelerated if local government polls were held in a partisan manner.

But the government has passed the law without discussions with other political parties and stakeholders, giving rise to questions whether such a decision would bring any good for the country's democracy and development, said the paper.

Executive Director of Step Towards Development Ranjan Karmaker said all preparations like amendment to political parties' constitutions, discussion with parties, public awareness building should have been completed before introducing partisan local polls. He feared that women's participation in the polls might fall due to the new system.

Secretary General of Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB) Shamim Al Razi said that in the current political situation, the ruling party candidates might get administration's favour.

Akhter Hussain, a professor of public administration at Dhaka  University, said the loopholes in the decision to hold the partisan polls should be identified and plugged immediately.

Local government expert Tofail Ahmed viewed that a communication gap had been created between civil society and local government representatives. It is a major barrier to building public opinion for strengthening local government institutions, he said.

Although a huge amount of money is allocated for rural development, it is not reflected in reality, he said.

The written paper of GAF also demanded that the government formulate a comprehensive law to specify duties, responsibilities and jurisdiction of different local government bodies -- district council, upazila parishads, city corporations, municipalities, and union parishads.