The Daily Star is launching a new series of talk show ‘The Election Talks 2018’ where experts will be analysing all aspects of the upcoming general elections, contemporary politics, events and incidents.

In today’s episode, Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder talks with the show host Shakhawat Liton, planning editor of The Daily Star.

The show is the seventh episode of The Daily Star’s political talk show series ahead of the December 30 election.

During unveiling the election manifesto for the 11th parliamentary election, the ruling Awami League highlighted a chart of development ensured in its last 10 years of rule.

Ali Imam Majumder expressed his solidarity with the Awami League’s claim in ensuring the country’s financial and infrastructural development.

On the other hand, Imam contradicted the party’s claim in improving the administrative activities. “I think, administrative degeneration has been done since the last one decade.”

The holding of a free and fair election has been made difficult due to the politicisation of the civil administration and the security agencies including police, he said. 

The Awami League was not eager in keeping the civil administration free from political influence during its last two-term rule, he said.

When asked whether democratic practices in the country have been interrupted as the government was engaged in carrying out development activities, he said democracy and development is a complementary matter to each other and ensuring of development of a country becomes possible when democracy exists there.

The United States is concerned on the high-level of pre-election violence over the last two weeks, which the oppositions have borne the brunt.

"All parties have been victims of violence including minorities and female candidates. However, it appears that the opposition candidates had borne the brunt of most violence,” US Ambassador Earl Robert Miller said.

He came up with the comments while briefing journalists after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda at the Nirbachon Bhaban in Dhaka today.

He appreciated the opportunity to consult with the commission to see what plans it has made for a conducive atmosphere which would allow all people of every political affiliation to feel safe to go to the polling stations on the election day and cast their votes for their candidates of choice.

US wishes a free, fair and peaceful election will be held in Bangladesh on December 30, the statement said.