Editorial
Stop pre-polls violence
Pre-polls violence has become a regular phenomenon in our country. Starting from union to upazilla level elections we witness pre-poll violence of some form or the other, sometimes even leading to large scale injuries, destruction of property and deaths of political activists and non activists alike.
With the Union Parishad polls closing in on us, intermittent pre-election violence is being reported from across the country. Only recently, at least 75 people were injured in pre-poll clashes between the supporters of rival candidates for chairmen in three upazillas in Patuakhali.
Union Parishad elections are important for ensuring a strong foundation of local governance and development institutions at the grassroots. To guarantee this, we need to do away with all kinds of provocation and intimidation among the followers of the candidates.
This sordid practice has created a dent in people's belief in peaceful elections, particularly at local levels, where the contests are of intense nature. Violence occurs even on Election Day, thereby posing a threat to the polls outcome. But, in essence, people have got used to exercising their right to franchise in ever increasing fervour. This trend has to be maintained.
Apart from the Election Commission and the government agencies, such as the police, Rab or even the armed forces, doings their bit, it is the senior leaders of the political parties and the contestants who should be active in keeping their supporters in check. Although local elections are supposed to be held on a non-party basis, party colours get nailed on them and so some confrontational element willy-nilly gets into the process. This must not happen.
The Election Commission has already held, with reasonable success, the Upazilla polls and elections to municipalities. It now devolves on all concerned to do everything possible to maintain that trend at the forthcoming polls as well.
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