Games, not real elections, being held: Shahdeen Malik

Staff Reporter :
Eminent Jurist Dr Shahdeen Malik has said the current electoral process lacks genuine competitiveness and resembles more of a game rather than a true democratic exercise.
“There is no real election, instead a kind of game is being played in the name of polls,” he remarked while addressing a press conference on Wednesday (19 July). He also claimed that the affidavits of the candidates in elections are not properly verified.

The press conference, titled “Information Analysis of Elected Candidates and Election Evaluation,” was organised by Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN) to examine the recent City Corporation elections in Gazipur, Barisal, Khulna, Sylhet, and Rajshahi.

Highlighting the inadequate verification process of candidate affidavits submitted to the Election Commission (EC), he said the affidavits have lost their significance as they are not being thoroughly scrutinised, rendering the verification process practically non-existent.

According to Dr Malik, the Election Commission should be responsible for verifying the authenticity of candidate affidavits, which is crucial to upholding the credibility of the electoral process.
Furthermore, he called for a ban on mayors engaging in business activities while holding executive positions. In his view, it is essential to ensure that executive leaders focus solely on their public responsibilities without any potential conflict of interest arising from business pursuits.

SUJAN Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar at the time echoed Dr Shahdeen Malik’s concerns and questioned the credibility of the city polls.
He said, “It cannot be an acceptable election if there is limited voter choice and no credible competition.”

Citing the example of a mayoral candidate of Sylhet, he also criticised the Election Commission for not taking appropriate actions against candidates who failed to disclose significant foreign assets in their affidavits. This lack of accountability undermines the transparency of the election process.
The press conference shed light on the decline in voter participation in certain areas.

Referring to the Dhaka-17 Constituency, where only 11.51 per cent of eligible voters exercised their franchise, Badiul Alam said not only some political parties but voters are also boycotting the elections.
In light of these concerns, SUJAN Coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarker presented several recommendations.
He urged the Election Commission to amend the affidavit table for candidates, ensuring the accuracy of the information and taking disciplinary action against those providing false information. He also called for the reintroduction of the ‘no vote’ provision to empower voters and promote transparency.

Additionally, Dilip emphasised the need for prompt publication of central election results on the website after the elections to maintain transparency and foster public trust in the electoral process.
During the press conference, SUJAN strongly condemned the attack on an independent candidate during the Dhaka-17 by-polls and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.