Editorial
Early indications from municipal polls
Sagacity on the part of political parties is called for
As we write this editorial, the votes are being counted in the 49 municipalities for which elections were held on Thursday. While it is yet too early to make any clear assessment or analysis of the overall election results, seeing that a fairly good number of municipal polls yet remain to be decided, we do believe that the rather peaceful manner in which the elections have been held so far says something about democracy in Bangladesh. The fact that elections were held without any disturbance in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions on Wednesday is a tribute to the professionalism demonstrated by the Election Commission, to the maturity displayed by the political parties and to the democratic character of the voters as a whole. So far the municipal elections have pointed to the sort of democratic behaviour that we have long yearned for in this country. It is our trust that such an attitude on the part of all will be maintained not just in the remaining municipal polls but in future general elections as well.
It is encouraging that voter turnout in Rajshahi and Rangpur was between 60 and 65 per cent. The election atmosphere apart, it is the early trends in voting which are now a focus of public interest. However, what is clear is that the lead taken by candidates backed by the opposition BNP shows a degree of vibrancy about the results that one cannot miss. The opposition gains, assuming they are maintained, will add a new interest and new dimension to national politics. Without taking away the credit from the opposition BNP on its performance, we note that the northern region of the country has traditionally been a BNP stronghold. However, what is surprising is the poor show by the Jatiya Party.
For the present, though, we can safely suggest that if these early trends are any guide, there is an unambiguous message here for the ruling Awami League. It is that the party cannot afford to be complacent and certainly cannot be dismissive of the results if they go against the candidates it backed. In this connection, we recall the results of a Nielsen poll carried out on behalf of this newspaper recently, which pointed to a decline in popular support for the ruling party. Such a conclusion now appears to be borne out by the results of the municipal polls.
As the nation waits for a full, clearer picture of the elections to emerge, we must emphasise the need for restraint and especially on the part of the political parties. We have noted in earlier instances that while the parties demonstrate restraint before and during voting, it is in the post-results period that things begin to fall apart. We trust such a pattern will not be repeated as the municipal polls come to an end. Indeed, the onus for keeping order through preventing any violence from marring this electoral exercise lies with the ruling party. The question is not whether the municipal election results go against or for it. It is one of a need for sagacity on the part of the ruling dispensation. The ruling party will, we hope, demonstrate the kind of maturity it so clearly showed after the Chittagong mayoral elections not so long ago. So far, the Awami League has shown wisdom in its approach to the Rajshahi and Rangpur results. Let that wisdom be maintained.
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