Violence raising doubts about electoral system

The country's electoral system has become questionable due to irregularities and violence in the ongoing polls to union parishads (UP) and in that held earlier to municipalities, city corporations and upazila parishads, speakers told a views-exchange meeting yesterday.

On holding free and fair polls, they emphasised that the Election Commission (EC) should strictly enforce rules and that the political parties and government must cooperate.

The meeting, on UP polls, was organised by Governance Advocacy Forum (GAF), a civil society organisation, in the capital's Cirdap auditorium.

Elections were held to 725 UPs on March 22 in the first phase, 639 on March 31 in the second, and 615 on April 23 in the third; to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations and municipalities last year and to upazila parishads the year before.

Media reports say all the elections were marked by irregularities and violence, the recent ones witnessing the killing of over 45 people, including 21 on three voting days, and injuring of several thousand.

Polls to 743 UPs are slated for May 7 in the fourth phase and 733 for May 28 in the fifth. Around 700 more UPs will go to polls in the sixth phase in June.

The electoral system deteriorated so much that people's confidence is eroding and polls now arouse panic instead of festivity, said eminent local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed, adding that the government and political parties must be cordial to make fair elections possible.

Sharmeen Murshid, chief executive officer of Brotee, a human rights and election watchdog, said their polls observers witnessed supporters of UP chairmen and member aspirants in many districts openly stuffing ballot boxes.

Clashes between supporters of Awami League-nominated and rebel chairmen candidates are occurring due to the weakening of the intra-party chain of command and discipline, she said. Steps Towards Development Executive Director Ranjan Karmaker said offices of local government institutions might turn into that of political parties due to the partisan nature of the local polls. Reading out the keynote paper, GAF Coordinator Mohsin Ali said a transparent and fair electoral system was the prime prerequisite for establishing democracy and good governance. The EC is constitutionally responsible for holding fair polls while the role of political parties is also very crucial, he said. Prof MM Akash of Dhaka University and officials of different organisations were present.