Credible polls under partisan govt possible, says TIB
STAFF REPORTER
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said that a fair election under the partisan government is possible, if all stakeholders, including political parties, play a supportive role. But it also said there is a lack of trust to hold parliamentary polls under the partisan government. TIB said this at a press conference while presenting a study report on Election Manifesto of the Political Parties: Good Governance and Integrity at its office in the capital yesterday (Monday).
TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman pointed out that it cannot be said that all elections held under the current government was controversial. Some of the local government polls were fair and it has been possible as the political parties wanted it, he added. Election under a political government is a reality now. We have to accept it. The caretaker government system has been erased constitutionally. In a broad sense, parliamentary polls are held under partisan government in many countries. We want to go to that stage, he said.
Elections are not conducted by the Election Commission (EC) only. If the political parties assist here, fair polls are possible under a partisan government, he stressed.
Now the state structure has been strengthened more compared to the situation 10 years back in curbing corruption and bolstering democracy. New laws have been formulated and different reforms have been made. But the changes have occurred on paper only. There is a huge gap in implementation, he added.
We have two challenges. First, there should be a mechanism to see how many of the election pledges are being implemented. Second, we have to see that we should not step back from good reforms. Rather, we should take measures to implement the reforms, he said.
I dont deny that there is lack of trust among different stakeholders and people on the issue of fair polls under the partisan government. The political parties have a great role in holding fair polls. It cannot be said such polls are not possible under the partisan government, he said.
About the election manifesto of the Awami League (AL), the study said the ruling party has presented eight election manifestos after independence, except in 1988 and 1996 as the party did not take part in parliamentary polls.
The central point of all election manifestos of the AL was establishment of democracy. Besides, it mentions the rule of law, separation of judiciary, curbing corruption, ombudsman, powerful local government, freedom of press and free flow of information.
Except the third, fourth and 10th parliamentary polls, the BNP also presented its five election manifestos, highlighting establishment of democracy and the rule of law, ensuring peoples participation in all spheres of the administration, empowering local government and establishing a corruption-free society, ombudsman, establishing an independent anti-corruption commission (ACC), separation of the judiciary, establishment of Gram Sarkar.
The Jatiya Party, in its election manifestos, mentioned repeatedly decentralisation of the administration through the local government, separation of the judiciary from the executive, freedom of the press, introduction of the upazila system, including the upazila court.
The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, in its 2008 and 2014 election manifestos, talked about the effectiveness of Parliament, implementation of the Right to Information Act, curbing of corruption, strengthening of the local government.
The Workers Party, in its election manifesto in 2014, talked about transparency and accountability of the administration at all levels, introduction of e-governance, a corruption-free administration and direct election for reserved seats.
The Bangladesh Communist Party, in its 2008 manifesto, spoke about curbing corruption, introducing ombudsman, empowering ACC and recognising minorities in the Constitution. The Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal presented four manifestos, mentioning independence of the judiciary, formation of a national government, freedom of the press, and empowerment of the local government.
Gonoforum talked about stopping of extra-judicial killings, cancellation of laws that are against fundamental rights, separation of the judiciary from the executive, ensuring governments accountability. Islami Andolon Bangladesh, in its 2008 manifesto, talked about establishing political stability, establishing integrity among the political parties and implementing pledges.
The study said though most of the political parties pledged good governance, there is a lack of specific plan to implement it. Although some pledges have been fulfilled, many important pledges like establishing effective parliament, appointment of ombudsman, cancelling of black laws, submitting of wealth statement of the peoples representatives, autonomy of state-run radio and television, etc. have not been implemented at all.
TIB suggested that the ruling party should publish a report on how much they have been successful in implementing their election manifesto. All the parties should mention in their manifestos what they will do as opposition if they fail to form the government. It also said the parties should have specifically mention in their manifestos how to fill the deficit of democracy and good governance.
