Local government expert questions acceptability of union council election

A local government expert has questioned the acceptability of ongoing union council election, saying a fair poll was a pipe dream in the absence of the government’s sincerity.

Chittagong University Professor Tofail Ahmed was speaking at a programme titled ‘Ongoing Union Parishad Election: Questionable Polls and System of Local Government Rule’

“Killings in the UP polls have hit half a century. Around 4,000 persons have been injured,” he said.

“So, this election has not only been riddled by questions but by bullets also,” he added.

Citing the uncontested election of a ‘large’ number of ruling Awami League candidates, Prof Ahmed said, “A discussion on the destiny of the local government election or the [role of the] Election Commission has become irrelevant.”

“The main question is: what is the future of elections in this country,” he added.

The six-phase UP election, which started on Mar 23, will end on June 4. Three rounds have been completed so far.

The BNP says a ‘farce’ is being enacted in the name of UP polls, while ruling Awami League leaders are satisfied with the polls scenario, saying it is for an ‘independent’ EC to prevent irregularities.

Prof Ahmed, however, sees no usefulness of the EC’s powers given to it by the Constitution.

“No matter how much the EC is strengthened, you won’t be able to see a good election without the government’s eagerness and cooperation,” he said.

“It’s a political process. I won’t hold the EC alone responsible. A fair election in this country cannot be held if the government doesn’t want it,” he added.

He said the UP polls this time lacked the earlier festive mood.

He also said complaining over irregularities was no remedy.

The professor alleged ‘horse-trading’ in the UP polls nomination process.

“Politics and democracy will have no future if this continues. Discussions on elections are irrelevant when such conditions prevail.

But he reminded that lives were being lost.

He recommended use by the EC of technology such as CCTV cameras or the filing of complaints through mobile phones to curb irregularities.

Dhaka University Professor MM Akash alleged the EC had not fulfilled its commitments in the first three phases of the UP polls.

Sharmin Mursheed, Chief Executive of Brotee, an organisation of election observers, Election Working Group Director Abdul Alim, Steps Towards Development Executive Director Ranjan Karmakar and Dhaka University Professor Qazi Maruful Islam also spoke at the event.

Governance Advocacy Forum Coordinator and Wave Foundation Executive Director Mohsin Ali presented the keynote paper at the programme organised jointly by the Forum and Manusher Jonno Foundation.