Photo: Collected
The Election Commission (EC) has issued a stern warning to ensure the four-phase Upazila council elections are conducted in a conflict-free, fair, and peaceful manner. The EC conveyed this stern message during an inter-ministerial meeting held on Tuesday.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Auwal chaired the meeting attended by four election commissioners, top officials from various ministries and agencies, including the Public Security Division, Public Administration, Police, BGB, and RAB. The meeting with the concerned secretaries continued for three hours at the EC Building from 11 am. Meanwhile, candidates' electoral symbols were also allocated during the meeting.
EC sources said the CEC sternly warned the election stakeholders at the meeting. Local elections pose higher risks than national elections in terms of conflicts. Here, the followers of influential political figures resort to force to ensure their victory. Again, voters remain afraid of going to polling centres due to fears of locally powerful individuals.
On the other hand, a certain class of politicians remains eager to question the election results for political reasons. Considering the overall situation, stern directives were given on actions needed for holding credible elections acceptable to the people of the country and the global community.
The Commission faces extra pressure, especially as ministers' and MPs' relatives remain present on the voting grounds. Meanwhile, the victory of 26 candidates without voting has already started raising multifarious questions from the political arena. The opposition politicians allege that people's interest in voting is declining due to distrust of the EC, and many stayed away from contesting for this reason. In such an analysis and context, directions have been given on ensuring voters' security at the field level, actions for field officials to tackle political questions, among other issues.
EC sources further said that to conduct the elections smoothly, the constitutional body has convened a meeting with all concerned, including deputy commissioners (DCs), police superintendents (SPs), and divisional commissioners tomorrow. The EC's Election Operations Wing has already sent letters to the concerned parties in this regard.
EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said the meeting directed the law enforcement agencies, administration, and other concerned officials to work in a coordinated manner. More law enforcement members will be deployed in this Upazila election compared to other local government elections. As the voting is taking place in four phases, deployments will be made at the district level as per demand.
Election Commissioner Alamgir Hossain said, “We want a fair, peaceful, and impartial election. Arrangements have been made by our law enforcement agencies, administration, and other departments so that the Upazila elections can be held peacefully.”
Relatives of ministers and MPs become troublesome for the Commission:
Most of the relatives of ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) did not adhere to the party's central directive regarding the Upazila elections. Defying the Awami League's directive to 'stay away' in the first phase of the four-phase Upazila elections, many relatives, including ministers' and MPs' sons and brothers, remained in the race as candidates.
On the last day of withdrawal of candidacy on Monday, except for a handful of upazilas, the family members of ministers and MPs kept their candidacy intact by showing various excuses in the remaining upazilas. With the presence of candidates loyal to influential figures on the ground, the EC has new concerns about the use of force. Reliable sources say that the EC also discussed yesterday what needs to be done at the field level in this regard. Many involved in the election believe that for the sake of a conflict-free and acceptable election, the ruling party now needs to cooperate with the EC by taking action against the defiant ones.
Currently, around 30 relatives of ministers and MPs are contesting for the Upazila chairman posts across the country. It is assumed that if action is taken against the identified ones, the risk of conflict will be considerably reduced.
EC faces many questions over the victory of 26 candidates without voting:
In the first phase, 26 candidates were elected uncontested to the posts of chairman, vice-chairman, and vice-chairwoman. On Tuesday, EC Additional Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan confirmed the matter.
In Bagerhat Sadar Upazila, three persons were elected uncontested to the three posts, while in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila, three persons were elected uncontested. In Shibchar Upazila of Madaripur, three candidates were elected uncontested.
Additionally, in Parshuram Upazila of Feni, three candidates were elected uncontested. Apart from these, two chairmen were elected uncontested in Saghata Upazila of Gaibandha and Singra Upazila of Natore.
In Rowangchhari Upazila of Bandarban, there was also a single candidate for the chairman post. However, due to the suspension of voting, the candidate will not be elected.
Furthermore, vice-chairmen were elected uncontested in Baliadangi Upazila of Thakurgaon, Sandwip Upazila of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Kawkhali Upazila of Rangamati, and Damurhuda Upazila of Chuadanga. Besides, women vice-chairpersons were elected uncontested in Baliadangi Upazila of Thakurgaon, Hakimpur Upazila of Dinajpur, Bera Upazila of Pabna, Kushtia Sadar, Barlekha Upazila of Moulvibazar, and Damurhuda Upazila of Chuadanga.
EC officials said that the commission is facing many questions, including a lack of interest and distrust in the voting process.
Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said that people's interest in voting has decreased, and the current commission has failed to gain trust in the national election.
Messenger/Disha
