Political leaders, academics and rights campaigners on Tuesday expressed fear that another controversial election might be held on December 30.

 

At a seminar on ‘Can People Vote Freely’, they said their apprehension was based on the existing election atmosphere where an uneven election field for oppositions, they observed, was prevailing in absence of neutral Election Commission, administration and law enforcement agencies.

 

Centre for Governance Studies organised the seminar at BIISS Auditorium.

 

Bangladesh Political Science Association president and CGS chairman M Ataur Rahman said, ‘There was influence of money and muscle in election in the past but now we are witnessing predatory power of state institutions — Election Commission, administration and law enforcement agencies — against oppositions,’ he said.

 

‘Such predatory behavior by the state mechanism against oppositions would destroy the country,’ he said.

 

In his keynote speech, Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said the Election Commission’s neutrality was still ‘questionable’ as it has so far failed to ‘dismantle’ the government’s ‘preset’ field administration.

 

The law enforcement agencies’ partisan behavior made an ‘uphill obstacle’ against holding a fair election, he said.

 

He said thousands of cases, arrests, enforced disappearances of oppositions created a ‘dreadful atmosphere’ which is hindering the election environment.

 

‘Over 90,000 cases against 26 lakh opposition activists have made a dreadful environment for BNP activists,’ Badiul Alam said.

 

He said the media, which can play a vital role through airing news about the election atmosphere, has been ‘controlled’ and many have resorted to ‘self-censorship’.

 

The undissolved parliament and intact government made an uneven election field for oppositions, he said.

 

‘If the EC cannot overcome the image of distrust by neutrality and bold behavior, the December 30 election might be a controversial election again,’ said Badiul Alam.

 

‘And if the candidates cannot survive in the field and voters are denied their rights to vote, the nation will go to a disastrous crisis,’ he said.

 

Former Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain said, ‘Pre-electoral period shows how the electoral period would be and the assessment of this time is telling how the election is going to be held.’

 

‘Common people still ask – will the election be held finally? It tells a lot about how the election is going to be held,’ he said.

 

Jatiya Party faction secretary general Sheikh Shahidul Islam said the possible result of December 30 elections is known to everyone let alone how the election would be.

 

‘The election is for who is going to be the opposition,’ he said, making an oblique note that Awami League was going to win the election by any means.

 

Writer Syed Abul Maksud mocked about the current election environment and said now a fair and peaceful election was possible only if the voters do not go to polling centres and the ruling party is allowed to go to power without any contest.

 

Dhaka University law professor Asif Nazrul said the voters would go to polling centres if the election is held in participatory manner, if they have chosen candidates in the field and if they had safety.

 

Former FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain said there were a lot of concerns among people about fair election.

 

BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said obstacles were created at everywhere by the EC, the administration and the law enforcement agencies before the oppositions in participating the polls.

 

‘It’s a big question how we could overcome these obstacles,’ he said.

 

Awami League advisory committee member Yusuf Hossain Humayun assured that there was no reason for giving up hope for fair election.

 

Jatiya Oikya Front leader and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury said the sail of the boat (Awami League’s election symbol) will ‘turn around’ if a minimum fair election is held on December 30.

 

News Courtesy: http://www.newagebd.net/