Meaningful Election

Kbd M Alamgir Hossain :
There is a significant saying” The people who cast votes do not decide election, the people who counts votes do”- said Joseph Stalin who was a noted politician. Actually democracy is not an election it is our life. Election is a corner stone of democracy. Election focuses the public power or political participation directly or indirectly in democratic country like Bangladesh. The journey towards democracy is not a novel phenomenon in Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh struggled for democratic political system for long years. The process of democratisation that started in Bangladesh following the liberation was not very encouraging. It has proceeded in the midst of ups and downs. The role of the government and the opposition was not conducive to democratisation the political system through free and fair election and institutionalisation during the recent past.
It is undeniable that our political parties are not satisfied at electoral results and habitiated in denying. According to BNP, the 11th parliamentary election was fake. Once BNP denied the present Parliament and did not legitimise it. Later on, some electoral representatives of BNP joined this Parliament. We hope this is a sign of political maturity and of Bangladesh moving towards a more healthy politics that the Bangladesh people deserve. In the coming days, EC believes it is crucial that all parties understand that elections are held for the people, not for the political parties. Boycotting an election deprives the electorate of their constitutional right to participate in an election. The decision whether to take part in an election should belong to the voters and not to the political parties. The voters’ wishes must be respected and their democratic rights must be upheld. We should know:
Elections make a fundamental contribution to democratic governance. Election enables voters to select leaders and to hold them accountable for their performance in office. Periodic elections help to solve the problem of succession in leadership. Elections also serve as forums for the discussion of public issues and facilitate the expression of public opinion. Sometimes elections reinforce the stability and legitimacy of the political community like national holidays commemorating common experiences. Finally, Elections do serve a self- actualising purpose by confirming the worth and dignity of individual citizens as human beings.
A new public opinion polls conducted by International Republic Institute shows that Bangladesh’s citizens are losing confidence in democratic institution and process. In this regards Election experts also emphasise the importance of elections. In fact, we should realise the importance of a meaningful election. Elections should be held with a view to nurturing and beautifying democracy. Hence, we can mention some focal importance:
1) Election is the most strong pillar on which the democracy of a country lies and also provides the power in the hands of its citizens so that they could utilise it to elect a government of their choice which could work for their betterment and safeguard their rights and freedom.
 2). It helps in building new leaders who are capable of ensuring prosperity and development of a country.
 3). Election not only helps public to choose a representative of their choice but also keeps a check on them.
 4). Free and fair election focus the signs of a healthy democracy and give the right of voting to the public so that they can elect the government of their choice which works for the welfare.
 5). Election acts as a medium through the politics in a country gets controlled by its citizens.
6). It acts as self corrective measure as it helps them to review their performance at a regular interval and put their efforts to work for public welfare and frame policies which appeal to citizens so that they support the government through voting.
7). Election strongly prevents the country from becoming autocratic as it gives the power in the hands of its people by distributing it equally among all.
 8). Election is an effective tool which helps every class and community to get up and speak for themselves through their representation.
9). It gives people an option where they can choose a candidate without any pressure or force who talks for them and represents them on much larger platforms.
10). Election helps the stakeholders indirectly to create political awareness for spreading peaceful environment. In the last year, Democracy International had brought together 400 AL and BNP leaders to inaugurate “Shantite Bijoye” – ahead of holding the 11th parliamentary election, seeking peace centering the polls with a slogan ‘Bangladesh will win if peace win’.
11). Sometimes fair election fades away due to widespread violence, deep mistrust and wrangling between the government and the opposition.
12). Election acts as a litmus test for a ruler to see change or continuity.
13). Election helps the political leaders to be developed through involving political movement and engaging electoral process.
 14). It enhances to be well-informed of in depth of outstanding of electoral laws, process and EC among the election conducting agencies.
15. Election allows peaceful transition from one form of government to another.
 16). It ensures that no government is elected for lifetime or then turns tyrannical.
 17). It allows people to participate in the affairs of the country and remain politically alter and vigilant.
 18). Election opens the door for new issues to be raised in public.
The foregoing discussion reveals that election has a link between the legitimacy of democratic governance and the liberty of human beings.
Present EC is not only dynamic and dedicative to nurture our democracy but also proactive to perform constitutional rules for the sake of conducting a free, fair and credible election. For the first time EC gets senior secretary who bears a high degree of performances.
Hope present EC along with secretary would leave no stone unturned to ensure electoral integrity by conducting the exemplary election and administer the entire electoral processes with competence, professionalism in a non-partisan and transparent manner. We do believe in conducting meaningful election with a view to beautifying our democracy.

(Kbd M Alamgir Hossain, Senior Assistant Secretary, Election Commission secretariat, Dhaka; email: alamgir01912@yahoo.com)