EC role so far not satisfactory

Political and security experts yesterday said credibility of the upcoming parliamentary election depended on the Election Commission, but its performance so far was not satisfactory.

The EC is adamant about introducing controversial electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the polls without adequate preparations. It procured the EVMs hurriedly that created doubts among the voters over their proper use, they said at a seminar in the capital.

On the other hand, the commission is reluctant to respond to complaints raised by the opposition parties and is not providing them with adequate space, they added.

The Centre for Governance Studies, an organisation working for good governance, organised the seminar on “Electoral Politics and People's Right to Vote” at the auditorium of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.

Presenting the keynote paper on the topic, former election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said, “The pre-electoral phase seems to be dominated by the party in power providing, in recent days, a very restricted space to opposition.”

This would spill over into the next phase, the electoral period, and put a huge stress on the EC, he said.

“… the ball is now in the EC's court which is mandated by the constitution to hold a 'free', 'fair', 'credible' and 'genuine', election,” he added.

Also a security expert, Sakhawat said the “pre-electoral period” was dominated by the ruling party because the government, which is mainly responsible for maintaining equilibrium, “failed to do so”.

He said the election would pose unprecedented challenges to the EC for various reasons. Both the government and the EC would have to act maturely.

Sakhawat also criticised the state of electoral politics of forming alliances, terming it “confusing”.

“The electoral politics has assumed a new but confusing state as various types of political travellers are jostling to accommodate themselves in what is known as alliances, divorcing ideology if there were any,” he added.

Former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said the EC's role and government support were crucial in holding a credible election.

He also doubted whether the EC was aware of its responsibility and power.

“The Election Commission can recommend dissolving parliament if the EC deems it necessary for a fair election. It did not do so yet,” he told The Daily Star over the phone after the seminar.

Hafizuddin added that the EC's urgency for procuring the EVMs raised doubts among the people over their proper use.

EVM is a modern technology. However, its acceptability to the people has to be confirmed first.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik, said there were many challenges for holding a fair election as it would be held under a partisan government, and parliament was not dissolved yet.

“It is a big concern whether these [the prevailing situation] will ensure a level-playing field.”

Concern also remains over competitiveness of the election though most political parties have vowed to participate, he added.

On the present EC, he said transparency had not been ensured while forming it and this was a “systemic manipulation”.

“Neutral and courageous people have not been chosen, but biased people were given priority,” he added.

A prerequisite for “genuine” polls is whether voters could cast their votes peacefully for their desired candidates and whether votes were counted properly, he said.

Iktedar Ahmed, former Supreme Court registrar, said the EC was empowered to deploy as much workforce as it needed. It could ensure a more credible election by doing so instead of using the EVM.

Fair Election Monitoring Alliance President Munira Khan said voters would have to be provided with a sense of security that they would not be harassed after casting votes for preferred candidates.

Noted jurist barrister M Amir-Ul Islam said while the election was nearing, some people were still fighting legal battles to be eligible for contesting the polls.

Prof Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq of Dhaka University said the EC will do the right thing if it does not use the controversial EVM in the election. 

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo claimed that a credible election would not be possible under the current EC.

The EC has to depend on the administration for holding an election while the administration is under the present government, said Awal, also a former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said his party wanted a peaceful parliamentary election because they were respectful of people's mandate.

He added that the present EC has been formed with transparency and on the basis of recommendations of a search committee.