The 12th parliamentary election is nothing but one-party election

Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :

How was the recently concluded 12th national election, what happened, how did it happen? There is a lot of buzz in and outside of the country.

People are facing all these questions in this election.

Whether the people’s hopes and aspirations are being reflected, whether there is a reflection of the people’s wishes or whether there is pressure or controversies from outside.

What is the international public opinion? How do they see this election or what will be the future of Bangladesh? The nation is divided today.

In this division, the country’s development and a possible future may be plunged into the darkness.

Many say that the 12th national election was a one-sided election which was nothing but an election of farce and joke.

It is just an arranged and farcical game.

Here democracy is misguided. According to many, this election is nothing but a reflection of individual wishes.

Among other opinions worth mentioning is that the election was a money game which we may call it a gambling.

The election was full of showmanship and show ups.

This election has been termed as a reflection of greed, lies and a reflection of authoritarianism from the analysts’ point of view.

When it became obvious in the months leading up to the polls that the major opposition political parties, including BNP, would not participate in the election without a non-partisan administration, all leading international bodies like the UN, the EU, and Western governments distanced themselves from sending full-fledged observer missions to the Bangladesh election.

Such decisions are clear indicators that those major global bodies and democracies were convinced about the absence of the intention of authorities to hold a fully participatory election.

The crackdown on BNP, right after its October 28 rally, ensured that the party was out of the picture.

With its leaders behind bars, BNP was left in ruins, and in the absence of an actual opposition, AL decided to make up competitors.

While the ruling party’s insecure allies were busy negotiating for seats for themselves, AL paved the way for its party members to run as “independent” candidates, many of whom are just dummy contenders.

And let’s not forget the contesting parties that exist only on paper.

The series of events since October 28 sent out the message that the ruling party had planned the election to ensure a victory.

The absence of democratic behavior is no longer hidden under the carpet.

The persecution of leaders and activists of the opposition parties, especially the BNP, drew international attention and criticism.

It was matched with other kinds of intrigue and machinations, such as fielding “dummy” candidates and using state apparatuses to ensure victory of the preferred candidates.

It was highlighted before the polling day that the goal of the incumbent Awami League was to draw a large number of voters to the polling stations.

The party hoped that its supporters and supporters of the “independent” candidates would make up more than 50 percent of the voters.

But January 7 showed how voters shied away from the polling booths.

Then came events casting serious doubts about the turnout data.

The Election Commission (EC) said around midday that the turnout was 18.5 percent, and around 3pm it was around 26 percent.

But an hour later, as the polls closed, the official estimate was claimed to be 40 percent.

That, too, was announced in a bizarre way.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, in a press briefing, said the turnout was about 28 percent, only to retract at the prodding of his colleagues and offered a new, higher number.

However these numbers are presented in the future, their veracity will continue to dog the EC.

Bangladesh has just witnessed yet another one-sided election, marked by low voter turnout, violence and claims of rigged voting after which the ruling Awami League (AL) is set to form a government for the fourth consecutive time with an absolute majority.

The election was not at all participatory or competitive as AL’s main political opposition party boycotted it, demanding election under a neutral, non-partisan government.

In this non-competitive election, AL-nominated candidates won 222 out of 298 while the independent candidates of AL won 62 seats.

That is, the ruling ALL alone got 284 seats-95 percent of the total seats. On the other hand, the main opposition in the current parliament, Jatiya Party (also known as the “domesticated opposition” party), won only 11 seats.

It is to be mentioned that I was the nominated candidate of 251 parliamentary constituencies from Comilla-3 constituency from Bangladesh National Awami Party (Nap) Mozaffar, the flag bearer of the liberation war spirit.

Nap leader Mozaffar, who was a sacrifice of the liberation war, who was above controversy in terms of ideals, honesty, loyalty and responsibility. The way the voter’s showed their indifference to my symbol and to me was a historical surprise.

This is simply termed ingratitude and dishonesty towards the nation. So, I am putting this question to the people whether the values of freedom is upward or downward.

Statements by the UN Human Rights Commission and some democratic governments following the announcement of the election results reflected their previous concerns over the credibility and legitimacy of a voting of this sort.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned that “the future of all Bangladeshis is at stake.”

The US Department of States spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said that they “share the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair.”

A spokesperson of the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said on the day after the election, “Democratic elections depend on credible, open, and fair competition.

Respect for human rights, rule of law, and due process are essential elements of the democratic process.

These standards were not consistently met during the election period.”

During the last decade and especially the last five years, corruption increased by leaps and bounds; denying it will only amount to burying our heads in the sand.

The rising amount of non-performing loans is sucking the very “blood” out of our banking system, and the main business houses responsible for it continue to receive official favour.

The banks’ internal governance system has been weakened, making the sector more vulnerable and putting the whole economy at risk.

The issue of good governance has been ignored alarmingly, with vital institutions abandoning its own rules and accountability.

This absurd election has ended.

But it has failed to provide any answers as to how the fundamental cracks and divisions in our society can be addressed, including the enormous inequalities-whether they be political, social, or economic-that have emerged, particularly as a result of the people losing their voting rights.

However, this election was one-sided which nothing is but farce, deception, illusion and mirage.

On the other hand, most of the people have been deceived through this election and have been made foreign body of the state.

They have been made fool and disenfranchised. In this election there was a boycott movement of a large section of the people.

Democratic trend has been damaged by destroying this movement.

A large section of the population has been disenfranchised.

This is considered as a major challenge to the accountability of democracy and humanity.

Therefore, this failure of the government may leave the state as a non-functional element.

May the almighty help the nation and save it from ruin.

(Former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP
Author, columnist and researcher.)