Editorial
Bhola by-election
It is for all to ensure peaceful polls
THE Bhola by-election is being held today in the backdrop of allegations of intimidation, recrimination and blame and counter-blame by both the major parties. Through this column we had in the past stressed the need for a fair and peaceful by-election in Bhola, and we would like to underscore again the need to ensure that it is so.
By-election in any democratic dispensation is a normal process, but nowhere does it engender so much passion and enthusiasm as in Bangladesh, to the extent that it appears to become the be-all and end-all of politics. More so if the by-election happens to be held soon after a new party has taken over the reins of power.
The Bhola by-election has been necessitated by the seat falling vacant after a High Court verdict had declared the 2008 Bhola polls null because the incumbent MP, belonging to the ruling AL, did not qualify as a candidate in the first place. That being the reason for the fresh poll, the by-poll has acquired a very different character because of the way the AL and BNP have approached the issue. On both sides of the political fence, our parties tend to greatly exaggerate the meaning of any by-election result. A victory or a defeat will hardly affect the power balance in any tangible manner. Yet both parties have gone about electioneering as if their life depended on it. It is this exaggerated meaning of the verdict that make them behave in such a confrontational manner.
We would like to suggest that by-poll results are merely indicative and not absolute since it involves a single constituency out of three hundred. It would be the earnest hope of everyone that all concerned would see that the polls are held fairly and peacefully, without intimidation or let, and the EC is allowed to do its job.
Also, it is very important that both parties respect the verdict, whatever that may be. But more importantly, the two would do well to take lessons from the result of the ballot and use that to run the future course of their political activity. We also hope that the zest that has been displayed during the recent campaign would be reflected inside the parliament too, because it would serve the voters poorly if, after so much enthusiasm, we are to see the House bereft of the opposition MPs as we saw happen during the greater part of the current parliament.
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