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 researcher and writer Mohiuddin Ahmed talks with the show host Journalist Golam Mortoza.

Replying to a query whether the election will be fair, acceptable and impartial despite being an inclusive one, Mohiuddin Ahmed said, “The election is being inclusive for political parties. However, we have to wait for a few more days to see to what extent the voters participate in the elections as the atmosphere will be more heated in the coming days.”

Commenting on the opposition alliances’ doubt over the EC’s role, the political analyser said, “The EC is very strong on pen and paper, but they hardly exercise the power vested onto them. Besides, the way the election commissioners get recruited; they tend to be loyal to their recruiter and a fear factor works as well.”

“On the backdrop of an incident, the CEC said that he had been embarrassed. But we do not expect such a statement from him. With this, he (CEC) has shown that they are helpless despite being strong on pen and paper.”

Apart from these, various issues like the role of media in the upcoming general elections, the aspirations of the new voters, and economic development have come up in the discussion.

Watch the full show here.

You can also watch the show on The Daily Star’s YouTube channel and the Facebook page.

Today’s episode of The Daily Star’s ‘The Election Talks 2018’ brings Dr Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, to the studio.

Dr Khan sheds light on the state of democracy in the country and the promises made by political parties ahead of the election in a tete-e-tete with Shakhawat Liton, planning editor of The Daily Star.

According to his opinion, “if this election fails then it will be a massive harm for democracy”.

“No opposition party of Bangladesh believes that a fair election can take place without a caretaker government. But this time they have taken the risk of contesting the polls under a partisan government,” he shares.

“So, if this election fails then it will be very harmful for the democracy,” he added.

Regarding the election manifestos of the political parties, he said that no real progress has been made in the political culture of the country. The manifestos are just the continuation of the past activities and present situation of the parties, he said.

Actually, even the voters are not concerned with all the aspects of the manifestos, he said.

Watch the video to know more!

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 Dr. Shahdeen Malik, Advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court, talks with the show host Shakhawat Liton, planning editor of The Daily Star.