Political environment not favourable for partisan polls, say experts

�Holding such polls may result in commercialisation of nominations�

Election experts yesterday said that a political environment conducive for holding elections under party banners has not yet been created in the country. Conducting polls in such a manner may result in commercialisation of nominations, they warned and added that the government has taken a big decision to hold local body elections under partisan system without prior discussion. Further, independent candidates, especially female candidates, will not be able to win if polls are held under party banners.
Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen M. Shakhawat Hussain said, “The holding of local government elections under party banners is not illogical but such an environment has not been created yet. The government has taken a big decision about it but the same has not been discussed widely.”
Replying to a query, he said, “Such voting under partisan banners may lead to commercialisation of nominations.” Shakhawat was addressing a roundtable on “state of elections in Bangladesh” organised by Election Working Group (EWG) at CIRDAP Auditorium with its Steering Committee member Prof Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah as chairperson.
About use of money in elections, he said, “It is difficult to stop the use of money in elections. Candidates transfer money through Flexiload or Bikash. Even credits in grocery shops or agriculture loans are repaid by candidates to get votes.” About political funding, he said it is indispensable to publishing income and expenditure of political parties uploaded to the website for transparency. “Electoral administration will be said to be up to the mark when a voter is able to go to the voting centre without any intimidation and return home safely after casting the vote,” pointed out the ex-EC official.
Barrister Manzoor Hasan, who was also present, said that there has been a trust deficit in the political environment which is damaging and this matter is creating conflict among different political groups.
Director of EWG Dr Md Abdul Alim, in the keynote paper, said that all local elections in the country till date have been typically non-partisan because political parties have endorsed, supported and opposed candidates indirectly. “The Cabinet recently approved revision of laws for partisan local elections but it did not seek any opinion or discuss with stakeholders, which is not desirable,” he said.
About the credibility of Bangladesh’s elections, Dr Abdul observed, “The parliament election 2014 has been constitutionally correct but credibility has been seriously questioned due to lack of inclusiveness. A large number of cases of violence, voter intimidation and other violations compromising voter integrity have been observed in a significant number of polling stations during the Upazila elections 2014. City Corporation Elections 2015 have not been considered credible either.”
On the topic of parliamentary elections, he recommended establishing a neutral election-time government; need to resolve parliament before elections, reinvigorating of the election commission and revision of electoral legal framework.

Political environment not favourable for partisan polls, say experts

�Holding such polls may result in commercialisation of nominations�

Election experts yesterday said that a political environment conducive for holding elections under party banners has not yet been created in the country. Conducting polls in such a manner may result in commercialisation of nominations, they warned and added that the government has taken a big decision to hold local body elections under partisan system without prior discussion. Further, independent candidates, especially female candidates, will not be able to win if polls are held under party banners. Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen M. Shakhawat Hussain said, The holding of local government elections under party banners is not illogical but such an environment has not been created yet. The government has taken a big decision about it but the same has not been discussed widely. Replying to a query, he said, Such voting under partisan banners may lead to commercialisation of nominations. Shakhawat was addressing a roundtable on state of elections in Bangladesh organised by Election Working Group (EWG) at CIRDAP Auditorium with its Steering Committee member Prof Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah as chairperson. About use of money in elections, he said, It is difficult to stop the use of money in elections. Candidates transfer money through Flexiload or Bikash. Even credits in grocery shops or agriculture loans are repaid by candidates to get votes. About political funding, he said it is indispensable to publishing income and expenditure of political parties uploaded to the website for transparency. Electoral administration will be said to be up to the mark when a voter is able to go to the voting centre without any intimidation and return home safely after casting the vote, pointed out the ex-EC official. Barrister Manzoor Hasan, who was also present, said that there has been a trust deficit in the political environment which is damaging and this matter is creating conflict among different political groups. Director of EWG Dr Md Abdul Alim, in the keynote paper, said that all local elections in the country till date have been typically non-partisan because political parties have endorsed, supported and opposed candidates indirectly. The Cabinet recently approved revision of laws for partisan local elections but it did not seek any opinion or discuss with stakeholders, which is not desirable, he said. About the credibility of Bangladeshs elections, Dr Abdul observed, The parliament election 2014 has been constitutionally correct but credibility has been seriously questioned due to lack of inclusiveness. A large number of cases of violence, voter intimidation and other violations compromising voter integrity have been observed in a significant number of polling stations during the Upazila elections 2014. City Corporation Elections 2015 have not been considered credible either. On the topic of parliamentary elections, he recommended establishing a neutral election-time government; need to resolve parliament before elections, reinvigorating of the election commission and revision of electoral legal framework.