Editorial
Ashraf talks beyond remit
His advice to DCs lacks common sense
LGRD minister and AL Secretary General Syed Ashraful Islam's exhortations upon the deputy commissioners that they prepare for the next parliamentary elections without 'help of the army' have taken us aback. Our surprise is exceeded by the unwarranted and misplaced nature of his assertions.
The Election Commission (EC) is charged with the responsibility of holding free, fair and credible elections with the DCs working under its watch and control during the polls. The minister skirted any reference to the EC whose independence is crucial to the conduct of good elections. The EC is the best judge as to whether army would need to be deployed for the national election. Who is the minister of LGRD to decide whether army would be used in the polls or not? This is as inappropriate as it is outside his given remit.
Actually, in all the four national elections held under caretaker system, and even those held before, army had been deployed as sentinels to secure law and order conducive to free, fair and credible elections.
There is a distinction between the local government polls and by-elections on the one side and the national elections on the other. Yes, under the incumbent government quite a few thousand polls including local government ones and by-elections have been held properly and credibly. However, none of those elections are comparable in terms of total voters, territory covered and number of candidates. Also, the biggest of these elections were staggered over a period of four months in 2011. Essentially, parliamentary elections are dissimilar as the latter change governments and others merely usher in office-bearers of local bodies.
If the minister fails to comprehend these obvious distinctions then he must be devoid of common knowledge, or he is deliberately trying to confuse the public.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments