The government wants to hold a “controlled election as per its plan” thus leaving the public in apprehension whether a free and fair election will be held, top leaders of Left Democratic Alliance said today.
"The Election Commission (EC) has no control on administration or police and that is visible. The EC apparently cannot go beyond the government's instruction," the leaders of the alliance said while disclosing their 32-point election manifesto at a press briefing in Maitree Milanayaton in Dhaka.
"In this apprehensive situation, the Left Democratic Alliance has decided to take part in the election as part of its movement. But its participation in the polls still depends on the role of the government and the Election Commission," said Mohammad Shah Alam, coordinator of Left Democratic Alliance.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh’s Mujahidul Islam Selim said their manifesto reflects the expectations of 99 percent people of the country.
A total of 131 candidates will contest under LDA across the country.
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Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has opened a Facebook page titled 'Rab Cyber News Verification Centre' to make people aware of false news and rumour spread during the upcoming general election.
Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Benazir Ahmed revealed it at a press conference regarding the elite force's preparation for the 11th parliamentary election at its media center in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar today.
If anyone becomes confused about any news, he/she will have to share it on the Facebook page and the Rab team will instantly reply it after verifying the truth, said the Rab DG.
Rab officials will work round the clock, he added.
He also said the Facebook page will remain open to counter all lies, rumours and false news centering the election slated for December 30.
A total of 10,000 Rab members have been deployed across the country ahead of the election, said the Rab DG.
"If anyone dares to carry out violence in any place, we will obstruct them and the force is ready to resist them," he added.
Two army helicopters will remain standby on the election day, he said adding, "A special force will be kept standby for travelling to any part of the country if needed."
Benazir also requested all to inform them any kind of violent incidents so that they can take instant action.
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Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain today said no development is meaningful if people's right is not established in the country.
Dr Kamal, also president of Gonoforum, a component of Oikyafront, said this at a press briefing held at the alliance’s Purana Paltan office in Dhaka this afternoon.
However, he in a press statement expressed hope that if the government and the Election Commission hatch any blueprint for the national election, then people of the country will foil it.
Calling upon the countrymen to go to the polling stations and cast votes, Dr Kamal said, “Through casting votes to your desired candidates, ensure your (people) ownership of the country and restore its democracy”.
“The EC has to take full responsibility if it fails to hold a free, fair and credible election on December 30 and the countrymen will compel it to answer for its failure,” he said in the statement.
“The EC must ensure a peaceful atmosphere for holding a free and fair election,” the Oikyafront key leader said.
About the role of law enforcers ahead of the election, he said, “Their behaviour is not acceptable”.
He alleged that police along with the ruling party men have been putting bar on the opposition candidates during their electioneering.
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The families of two teenagers killed in Mohammadpur during a clash of Awami League factions ahead of the general election have been robbed of justice.
The family members of one of the victims said police submitted the final report in the case without talking to them. The report mentioned no clash even though it was widely covered by the media at that time. It termed the incident an “accident”.
Councillor Tarequzzaman Rajib of ward-33 also threatened the father of one of the victims not to file a murder case, they said.
A case was filed after the November 10, 2018, incident and the father of one of the teens was made the plaintiff.
The father maintains he did not file the case and that the signature on the case document could not be his since he is illiterate. He said Councillor Rajib put a gun to his head and told him to do as he said after the incident.
The families opened up to this paper only after Rajib was arrested this week.
On the morning of November 10, 2018, a procession of vehicles, largely comprised of flatbeds, with supporters of AL leader Sadek Khan was going towards the AL Dhanmondi office to buy nomination paper for Sadek’s candidacy in the polls.
Mohammad Sujon, 19, and Arif Hossain, 14, were on one of the pickup trucks when the procession was attacked allegedly by the men of rival AL leader and then lawmaker Jahangir Kabir Nanak.
During the melee Sujon and Arif fell off the vehicle and the driver, trying to avoid the brick chunks being hurled at the pickup, reversed and ran the two over, according to case documents, news reports, witness accounts, and statements of the families.
Sujan and Arif died in hospital.
Arif’s father Faruk Hossain was taken to a community centre in Mohammadpur when he was on his way to the hospital. He was confined there for 12 hours by Rajib’s men, Faruk told The Daily Star.
Late at night, Rajib, reportedly Nanak’s ally, at the community centre told Faruk to go to the police station to talk about getting the body of his son.
Faruk then went to the police station, gave his details, and told the officials there what he knew about the incident. He had no idea that police were filing a case making him the plaintiff. The police officials there asked him to identify the body at the Suhrawardy hospital, Faruk said.
On his way to the hospital from the police station, two men stopped him near Shia Masjid and took him to Rajib’s home.
Rajib told him at gunpoint to do as he said regarding the matter, Faruk told The Daily Star.
“You wouldn’t get anything if you file a murder case. Instead, you will be harassed and face the same consequences as your son. You are from Lalmonhon of Bhola and so am I. Do what I say. You will get a good compensation,” Faruk quoted Rajib as saying.
Faruk eventually identified his son’s body the next day.
Faruk said, “After the incident, I thought it was police who were the plaintiff in the case.
“This is my NID, sir. See, I can’t sign,” Faruk showed his NID to this correspondent which had his thumb print.
Faruk said not a single police officer talked to him about the investigation since then.
Sujon’s uncle Md Riaz told The Daily Star last night that the police never talked to them either.
He said councillor Rajib had promised them compensation and jobs for family members but he never delivered.
Sujon’s family did not know that the final report was submitted. They heard it first from The Daily Star correspondent.
After “investigating” the case for 11 months, police submitted the final report terming the incident an “accident”.
Police had arrested convener of Jubo League’s Adabar Thana unit Arifur Rahman Tuhin in connection with leading the attack but in the final report police said they found no evidence of Tuhin’s involvement.
Rajib, on behalf of then MP Nanak, had given Arif’s family Tk 30,000 and Sujon’s family Tk 25,000 as burial cost.
After the incident, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the prime minister directed the authorities concerned to submit a probe report over the incident within two days.
Whoever is found involved would be given exemplary punishment, he had said, adding that the prime minister wanted to know “who destroyed the peaceful election environment”.
Sub-Inspector Mukul Ranjan of Mohammadpur police station, investigation officer (IO) of the case, said they submitted the final report of the case in the first week of this month as they could not find any evidence or witnesses.
Police also could not identify the pickup truck and its driver.
In the final report, police said the two factions of the ruling party came “face to face” near Mohammadi Homes Ltd on November 10 when the unidentified driver reversed in a hurry and could not see what was behind him. This led to the two getting run over.
The SI in his investigation found no evidence of the clash. He only said the two faction came “face to face”. The media, however, had extensive coverage of the incident.
They reported that the attackers, armed with hammers, sharp weapons and brick chunks, swooped on the procession of vehicles.
The IO said said Faruk did not know what had actually happened and had “filed the case” based on hearsay.
Taking to this newspaper, the SI claimed that he did not find anything in CCTV footage and no local wanted to be a witness.
Asked why the IO never contacted Faruk, the IO first claimed that he had contacted him but later said they could not reach him.
The IO claimed that Faruk had indeed filed the case.
At one stage of the conversation with this correspondent, the IO said he had written the final report with direction from a superior officer of Tejgaon Division Police.
Anisur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Tejgaon division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star that he had no knowledge about the development of the case as he joined the division only a few months ago.
“I will have to see the documents,” he added.
In November last year, Nanak said he had nothing to do with the attack on the procession.
Sadek had said that he did not want to blame anyone and demanded a proper investigation.
The Daily Star could not reach Nanak and Sadek for comments over the last few days.
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Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a newly formed platform of eight left-leaning parties, yesterday demanded that the present parliament be dissolved before the schedule for the next general election is announced.
The alliance was floated yesterday through a press conference at Mukti Bhaban -- headquarters of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).
In the briefing, the LDA also demanded formation of a neutral election-time government and reorganisation of the Election Commission after discussions with all political parties and different groups of people. According to the alliance, the entire election system collapsed and free and fair election would not be possible under the present “subservient” EC.
“The entire election system has turned into a farce. There is no rule of law in the country. Opposition parties and dissidents are being oppressed as the government continues torture, filing of false cases, arrests, enforced disappearances and killings to cling to power,” CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim told the briefing.
The alliance will wage movements for a free, fair and credible general election, he added.
Shifting of the state power between the Awami League and the BNP will not solve the present crisis in the country, said Saiful Huq, general secretary of Revolutionary Workers Party and coordinator of the left combine.
It is therefore important to float an alternative political force apart from the two parties, he said in a statement.
Criticising the government, Saiful also said people were at a loss due to unprecedented corruption and misrule of the government.
Although the EC has announced a road map to the next general election, there is still no atmosphere in the country to cast votes, he added.
Terming Khulna and Gazipur city corporations elections “controlled”, he said the same “model” would be followed in the upcoming city corporation polls in Barisal, Rajshahi and Sylhet.
The alliance is comprised of CPB, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Ganasanghati Andolan, United Communist League of Bangladesh, Ganatantrik Biplabi Party and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Andolan.
It also declared a four-day programme, including holding countrywide demonstrations on July 24 protesting the misrule of the government, holding a discussion on reforms of the electoral system on August 4 in Dhaka and holding rallies in six divisional cities on August 10 and 11.
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all stakeholders to ensure an environment free of violence, intimidation and coercion before, during and after Sunday's general election in Bangladesh.
In the run-up to the polls, he said an environment free from violence would help enable a peaceful, credible and inclusive election.
In a statement yesterday, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN secretary-general, said, “All Bangladeshi citizens, including minorities and women, must feel safe and confident in exercising their right to vote. Civil society and electoral observers should be fully supported to play their role in the process.”
Ahead of the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, @antonioguterres calls for an environment free of violence, intimidation and coercion. All Bangladeshis, including minorities & women, must feel safe and confident in exercising their right to vote. full text: https://t.co/bMQIDBtozh
Guterres also reiterates the continued commitment of the United Nations to support a peaceful and democratic Bangladesh, it added.
The call for a peaceful and free, fair and inclusive election comes at a time when violence continues across the country before the 11th parliamentary election.
Last week, the UN said it is closely following the situation ahead of the polls in Bangladesh.
On December 10, Dujarric said, “We believe, as a matter of principles, that elections should be held in a positive climate, free from any sort of intimidation.”
In another development, the US yesterday expressed concern by the high level of campaign violence over the last two weeks.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda at the Election Commission Secretariat, US Ambassador Earl Miller said he asked for this meeting because the US is concerned by the high level of campaign violence over the last two weeks, says an embassy statement.
All parties have been victims of violence, including minorities and female candidates. However, it appears opposition party candidates have borne the brunt of most violence, he said.
Miller added, “I appreciated the opportunity to consult with the Election Commission to see what plans it has to create a conducive atmosphere, so all Bangladeshis, no matter their political affiliation, feel safe to go to the polls on Sunday and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.
“Bangladesh is rightfully proud of its democratic traditions, including elections where upwards of 70 percent of the electorate turns out to vote. In any democratic election there must be space for peaceful expression and assembly; for independent media to do its job covering electoral developments; for participants to have access to information; and for all individuals to be able to partake in the electoral process without harassment, intimidation, or violence.”
The US wishes all Bangladeshis a free, fair, tolerant and peaceful election day on Sunday, the envoy added.
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