Staff Reporter :
The 12th national parliamentary election has turned into an election of so-called independent, dummy, loyal and king’s party’s candidates, deviating substantially from academic definition, speakers said.
The election on January 7 does not fall under the definition of an election as independent, dummy, loyal and king’s party’s candidates are contesting here in the name of participatory elections, they added.
Even if the government can ensure 100 per cent voter turnout by intimidation, this election will not be an acceptable one, they said while speaking at the webinar on “Rigged Elections 2024: What Previous Election Observation Experience Says” organized by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies.
In his inaugural speech, Prof Mahmudul Hasan, Professor of English Language and Literature Department of the International Islamic University Malaysia, said, “The people of Bangladesh are now suffering from the lack of democracy.
The government has no accountability. They (Govt) work not for the people, but to assist the outside power that keeps them in power.”
Badiul Alam Majumder, Secretary of Citizen for Good Governance (SUJAN)), said, “The activities that will happen on January 7 cannot be called elections. A single party with its loyalists is playing the election-election game.
Various strategies are being taken to influence this poll.” “The Election Commission has been formed with people of their (ruling party) choice. There is a strong partisan in law enforcement.
The system of election under the party government has been brought back by unconstitutionally amending the constitution.
It has been alleged that measures are being taken to ensure the presence of voters at the polling centres by threatening to take away social allowance cards,” he added.
Prothom Alo joint editor Sohrab Hasan said, “Now the civil society men are not seen protesting much. Lawlessness has reached this stage of tolerating injustice. Elections cannot be held by excluding one part.
It is not an acceptable poll. What is happening in the name of election is one-sided and coercive. Now the way to prevent elections is mass movement.”
Referring to the united role of civil society in the anti-dictatorship movement, Sohrab said, “A culture of fear has emerged.
There is a crisis of social leadership. We must find an alternative to resolve the problem, so that the next generation gets that benefit.”
“If the minimum conditions of democracy are not met, it will not be useful to eliminate the technical problems of elections,” he opined.
Sharmeen S Murshid, Chief Executive Officer of the election observation group “Brotee,” said, “A major challenge for election monitoring agencies in the country is that they have been tagged as spokesperson political parties.
My organization was not allowed to monitor the last parliamentary elections and this time nominal observers have been allowed to monitor the next polls.”
Referring that the ruling party does not want to face the truth, she said, “This country will never get a fair election through the process in which the elections have gone. With this election, the future of the ruling party is also plunged into darkness.”
Ali Riaz, Distinguished Professor at the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University of USA, said, “Depoliticization is now going on among the students. Previously, it was seen in the student parliament (Chhatra Sangsad) elections.
The student organization of the ruling party did not win in the elections. Now the university authorities consider riding the metro rail important. Neutrality is being destroyed systematically.”
Sultan Mohammad Zakaria, Country specialist of the Amnesty International US and Journalist Monir Haider, among others, spoke on the occasion.
