Voter list
A brief comment of the Chief Election Commissioner was aired by the BBC Bengali Service following promulgation of an ordinance empowering the EC to prepare a "new" voter list with photo and National ID. According to the Chief Election Commissioner, this ordinance replaces the old law and could be considered as a new law. Our memory is still very fresh and we can easily recall the events leading to promulgation of the State of Emergency on January 11.Perhaps we remember that the focal point of the much talked about political turmoil was the Election Commission, and preparation of a new voter list by the then EC. The rest is history. But one thing is possibly worth mentioning that the issue of the voter list went up to the Supreme Court. Now my question is, what about the judgment of the SC regarding updating of the voter list based on the voter list of 2000( hope I am correct)? Is this judgment also set aside by promulgation of the new ordinance? The new addition is affixing the photo of the eligible voter in the list. Does it mean that the EC can prepare a "new" voter list and affix photo instead of updating the 2000 voter list and affix photo on that list? It is a legal issue. I hope legal experts would kindly give their considered opinion. We believe the EC would also be obliged to get a clarification from the appropriate authorities, which in my opinion is the SC. I might sound cynical if I squeeze too much on the voter list issue, especially voter list with photo ( without any aspersion on anybody, I am very skeptical about its 100% success ). The recent history of the EC and the voter list tells us how a nation can be brought to a situation where democracy is halted. We only hope that the "new" voter list with photo would not be a " legal time bomb" and face numerous legal challenges when put to use for the promised national election by December 2008. One ought to remember that an incomplete or faulty voter list might jeopardize the whole roadmap of the EC. One can easily set aside my opinion, but think twice before it is done. We take lessons not only from history, but also from the pages of life.
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