How can the Election Commission that failed to hold by-polls for Gaibandha-5 constituency Wednesday hope to hold the national election freely all over the country? Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal himself said, “We have seen with our own eyes people entering the secret rooms and casting votes unlawfully.” The irregularities at the centres were so rife that after three and half hours, four of the candidates boycotted the election, and soon after the EC cancelled the polls.
The Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal at the press conference said further cautiously that those vandalised in centres were dacoits. He agreed with the journalists at the conference that those who gave false votes were dacoits, they were the miscreants.
The Chief Election Commissioner did not show courage to say who these dacoits were. These dacoits were political mastans of the Awami League candidate. It is also clear that the Election Commission could organise cooperation of the government officials.
The consensus view is that the present Election Commission is irrelevant as it is being kept to endorse election robbery of the government. The government and its dacoits cannot be restrained from election robbery.
The Chief Election Commissioner has the good intention but as a former public servant he did not have the courage to say who made impossible the holding of by election. He was short of courage to blame the government supported candidate for engaging the miscreants and defy the Election Commission.
We do not need an Election Commission for cancelling elections. There is need for an independent Election Commission with the ability and courage to ensure free election, especially the national election. There is no such possibility.
After the proof that the government officials did not listen to him or cooperated to maintain law and order, the Chief Election Commissioner should know that his existence during the national election will be zero.
Cancelling the Gaibandha-5 polls means the EC will have to hold the by-election for the constituency again within a stipulated time frame and this involves expenditure of more money for the same election. At a time when the economy of the country is reeling under a crisis and is on the brink of a collapse, such exercise of power by the EC is indeed a matter of luxury, let alone an exercise in austerity.
The CEC should discuss with the government that if it is ready to hold the national election like it is held in other countries. If the government is not ready to do so, he should resign.
As the matters stand today, it is a proven fact that it is not possible for the EC to hold elections in a free and fair manner under the present government. The government cannot give up power by holding free election and feel safe. So the nation must be ready to stop election robbery.
