Who plays the key role for election?
Omar Mohammed, Toronto
During this summer while I was in Bangladesh I have seen a special complimentary page in the daily Prothom Alo on Election Commission and its activities. Among the designated discussants, there was Justice Abdur Rouf, ex chief election commissioner. In his discussion he mentioned that actually election commission does not play major role in conducting free and fair election in Bangladesh. He cited the reference of a TNO of one of the hill districts who once said to him that free and fair election in CHT did not happen in any of the democratic election process and always it was determined by the army general who was in charge of the area. It was a serious allegation and we heard it from one of the ex chief election commissioners. On November 11 I saw a special talkshow on a private TV channel -- NTV. The topic was again the role of election commission and the election procedures. The ex-chief election commissioner (mentioned above) was present in the discussion. Although indirectly, he criticised the on-going political agitation of opposition coalition against the chief election commissioner and his colleagues at election commission. He mentioned that it was not the election commission but the local administration which plays the key role in conducting the election. The DCs, SPs and TNOs are the key figures in the whole election process. If someone wants to apply any influence in the election process and in its final result, they are the top level officials of local administration. What stands from his argument is that anti-CEC campaign is meaningless. So far we know that during election local administration works under the direction of the election commission. So, it is the election commission who is responsible for any misconduct done in the election process. But the arguments of the ex-chief election commissioner in the media gives different scenario. Which one is correct? Who is powerful? Is it local administration or election commission? If the election commission is not responsible for free and fair election, then why are there lots of discussion on electoral reforms? What will be the useful reform to ensure free and fair election which is, arguably, badly needed for the consolidation of democratic culture in Bangladesh?
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