Use of party symbol led to rising violence!
Sagar Biswas :
Like the first phase, the Election Commission [EC] has failed to check violence and irregularities also in the second phase of Union Parishad [UP] polls despite its promise to arrange an acceptable election at the lowest tier of local government.
The death toll now rose at 38 in two phases [27 in first phase and 11 in second phase] while the number of injured is over 2,000. Besides, dozens of houses and business establishments were damaged during the clashes between the supporters of winning and defeated candidates in different parts of the country.
“Sporadic incidents of violence have been occurred in different areas on the eve of UP polls centering maintaining supremacy locally. The law enforcers, however, have brought the situation under control instantly,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Saturday clarifying the reason behind the electoral clash.
But the concerned circles differed with the statement of Home Minister. Rather, they said the reason behind the increasing violence was nothing, but introducing of ‘party symbol’ for the first time in the UP election. Besides, the local administration directly worked ‘in favour of ruling party candidates’ in different areas.
In many areas, the candidates of BNP and other opposition political parties could not campaign freely for their candidates fearing police cases and harassment. As a result, the grassroots activists of BNP-Jamaat were compelled to work in favour of ruling party candidates to ensure their victory
in several unions, the concerned circle further said. “The entire electoral process is derailed now. In several places, the BNP and Jamaat men were seen supporting Awami League candidates. They know better why they are supporting ruling party men — to get relief from cases or get blessing of the rulers,” local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed said.
“We think, the main reason behind the bloody clashes in the UP polls is nothing, but the using of party symbol. We had opposed to this government decision [use of party symbol] from the very beginning. This new system not only has increased violence, but also opened a new stage for nomination business,” Badiul Alam Mazumdar, Secretary of Sushasoner Jonnyo Nagarik [SUJAN], said.
“Jamaat has taken different strategy in this election. In some places they have worked in favour of BNP and in some places they worked for Awami League. They filed a few candidates as independent candidates,” election analyst Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said.
In fact, the dubious role allegedly played by EC in favour of ruling Awami League has fueled discontent among the opposition political parties, including the BNP and the Jatiya Party.
Islami Andolon Bangladesh [IAB] on Saturday demanded immediate resignation of entire Election Commission along with Chief Election Commissioner for its failure to hold free and fair election.
“The EC has played a dirty game in the name of holding UP election. This one-party election is conducted by the incumbent one-party government…. It is unprecedented. No fair election was held in the country since January 5, 2014. In spite of arranging electoral festival, the government and EC are running violence,” Ameer of IAB and Peer of Charmonai, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, said at a press conference.
Not only that, the BNP is also actively thinking to boycott UP polls after third phase. Especially, the grassroots leaders of BNP have been creating pressure on party high-ups to step aside from the polls when they are facing harassment increasingly due to use of party symbol in the election.
Party insiders said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will take decision in this regard after discussion with senior leaders soon. BNP may also take decision to participate in the polls without using its party symbol.
The Awami League, however, termed the latest stance of BNP as a technique ‘to get respite from humiliation’. “BNP is trying to boycott UP polls apparently to get respite from embarrassment following massive failure in the UP election. If BNP wants to come back to the main flow of healthy politics, it will have to accept the polls [UP] result,” Mahabubul Alam Hanif, Joint General Secretary of Awami League, said yesterday.
Like the first phase, the Election Commission [EC] has failed to check violence and irregularities also in the second phase of Union Parishad [UP] polls despite its promise to arrange an acceptable election at the lowest tier of local government.
The death toll now rose at 38 in two phases [27 in first phase and 11 in second phase] while the number of injured is over 2,000. Besides, dozens of houses and business establishments were damaged during the clashes between the supporters of winning and defeated candidates in different parts of the country.
“Sporadic incidents of violence have been occurred in different areas on the eve of UP polls centering maintaining supremacy locally. The law enforcers, however, have brought the situation under control instantly,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Saturday clarifying the reason behind the electoral clash.
But the concerned circles differed with the statement of Home Minister. Rather, they said the reason behind the increasing violence was nothing, but introducing of ‘party symbol’ for the first time in the UP election. Besides, the local administration directly worked ‘in favour of ruling party candidates’ in different areas.
In many areas, the candidates of BNP and other opposition political parties could not campaign freely for their candidates fearing police cases and harassment. As a result, the grassroots activists of BNP-Jamaat were compelled to work in favour of ruling party candidates to ensure their victory
in several unions, the concerned circle further said. “The entire electoral process is derailed now. In several places, the BNP and Jamaat men were seen supporting Awami League candidates. They know better why they are supporting ruling party men — to get relief from cases or get blessing of the rulers,” local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed said.
“We think, the main reason behind the bloody clashes in the UP polls is nothing, but the using of party symbol. We had opposed to this government decision [use of party symbol] from the very beginning. This new system not only has increased violence, but also opened a new stage for nomination business,” Badiul Alam Mazumdar, Secretary of Sushasoner Jonnyo Nagarik [SUJAN], said.
“Jamaat has taken different strategy in this election. In some places they have worked in favour of BNP and in some places they worked for Awami League. They filed a few candidates as independent candidates,” election analyst Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said.
In fact, the dubious role allegedly played by EC in favour of ruling Awami League has fueled discontent among the opposition political parties, including the BNP and the Jatiya Party.
Islami Andolon Bangladesh [IAB] on Saturday demanded immediate resignation of entire Election Commission along with Chief Election Commissioner for its failure to hold free and fair election.
“The EC has played a dirty game in the name of holding UP election. This one-party election is conducted by the incumbent one-party government…. It is unprecedented. No fair election was held in the country since January 5, 2014. In spite of arranging electoral festival, the government and EC are running violence,” Ameer of IAB and Peer of Charmonai, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, said at a press conference.
Not only that, the BNP is also actively thinking to boycott UP polls after third phase. Especially, the grassroots leaders of BNP have been creating pressure on party high-ups to step aside from the polls when they are facing harassment increasingly due to use of party symbol in the election.
Party insiders said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will take decision in this regard after discussion with senior leaders soon. BNP may also take decision to participate in the polls without using its party symbol.
The Awami League, however, termed the latest stance of BNP as a technique ‘to get respite from humiliation’. “BNP is trying to boycott UP polls apparently to get respite from embarrassment following massive failure in the UP election. If BNP wants to come back to the main flow of healthy politics, it will have to accept the polls [UP] result,” Mahabubul Alam Hanif, Joint General Secretary of Awami League, said yesterday.
