Is credible election possible in Bangladesh?

Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :

In Bangladesh, 12th Parliament election is knocking at the door.

Voting is the fundamental right of the citizens though voting power is being shifted.

But with this shift or change, corruption should in no way be taken place.

In the name of development govt. agency or any individual by exploitation can by no means bluff people.

Those who have become rich by illegal earnings from time to time, they should be boycotted.

The political parties and people must be very careful about those dishonest fellows.

In the coming parliament election, the honest competent and real patriots must be nominated from different parties. Without one the other can’t flourish.

So both development and election must be corrupt free.

Our politicians have institutionalized a culture of fear mongering by holding the people hostage through procession, demonstration and all other political program.

If those activates meant the right to demonstrate, people may not mind.

But those activities that endanger our lives and property while posing a threat to our fundamental rights is a direct attack on democracy and contravenes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The unrest and aggressive situation that we have been witnessing over the past two decades are contorting the norms of democracy.

In fact, dictatorial attitude, discrimination and violation of human rights have already sounded the death knell of democracy in Bangladesh.

In 2014, the AL had used the argument of constitutional continuity in governance to counter criticisms of uncontested renewal of office. But, in 2018, it realized that the same logic would not work again and made a strategic move to make the election inclusive.

In February 2018, PM Sheikh Hasina even offered to form an all-party poll-time government and engaged in dialogue with opposition parties, including the BNP.

It still remains a mystery why the BNP and its allies went on to participate in that election without replacing the partisan government with an all-party interim administration.

As a result, the 2018 election, despite all its massive irregularities, including ballot stuffing the night before, became an inclusive election.

The culture of democracy was demolished by unfair election.

Always a vested corner used to take over the state’s control and manipulate the country.

In the name of democracy, they were used to misrule the country and cheat people.

If the parties nominate dishonest people for parliament election, it will again be a massacre against the dignity and honor of the country which has been earned by the Prime Minister.

There are corrupt and dishonest people among the parties and these corrupt and dishonest people want nomination to misguide people and to interrupt the advancement of the country.

If a fair, free election is conducted and sincere, honest people become a parliament member.

The opportunist section of our society is looting the country’s wealth in various ways and syphoning it out of the country.

This is only possible if the government has no accountability.

This system has been put in place for this purpose.

I am not sure whether any big revolution will happen, but we think a government can be changed if a free and fair election is held.

If that government wants to engage in any anti-people activity, people have the ability to change that government through their votes.

Election battles in Bangladesh will remain limited between the two big parties until the voting system is changed.

We should not be surprised or dismayed to see what is happening today in the political arena of Bangladesh.

This does not dilute our brilliant and glorious past of party politics that brought us nationhood and gave us democracy.

Thus, the turmoil that Bangladeshi political arena currently faces is ultimately a manifestation of these conflicts, which has been further magnified by the current electoral debates that have caught our attention and imagination.

But, can a free, fair and participatory election provide an amicable solution to the deep divisions that have pushed us to this brink of madness? Can simply a change of political power be the magic bullet that moves us forward as a nation? Historical developments within societies carry imperative information on political order with grave mistrust and frictions.

Bangladesh has not proved to be an exception.

Both election and democracy are the imperatives to development. Election and democracy co-exist.

We must be tolerant, humanitarian and our political leaders’ mindset needs to shun dirty politics, avoid conspiracies and bad game.

In this regard, it is the government whose responsibility is to ensure peace and congenial environment.

Finally, the credible election will only be the way out to save democracy and to save the nation’s sovereignty.

(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP).