VIOLENCE IN UP POLLS

Experts ask EC members to quit

Election experts yesterday said that members of the Election Commission (EC) should step down for their failure to check violence and irregularities in the ongoing union parishad (UP) polls. They also observed that the EC’ failure has proved that it is not possible to hold fair polls under party banners as it could not prevent violence, strong-arm tactics by political cadres and massive irregularities in the current elections. They were speaking at a press conference, organised by Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN), at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital to discuss the ongoing UP polls across the country in different phases. SUJAN secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said, “The EC is a hindrance to fair polls. It has surpassed the MA Aziz-led commission under the BNP regime. It has destroyed our entire election system. It is a matter of grave concern.” The Aziz-led commission had become controversial before the ninth parliamentary polls and, eventually, all its members had to step down.
“The local government elections have been defiled. The EC has lost its control over elections as result of its incompetence and inefficiency. It's now too late to reassert such control,” Majumdar added. He also said the current commission does not understand the concept of elections. “Poll-related violence has increased because of the decision to arrange elections under party symbols. Members of the EC have failed to hold fair polls. They should resign by taking responsibility for such failure,” he added. Muhammad Jahangir, a national committee member of SUJAN, said, “Both the government and the EC claimed that the UP polls have been fair, barring some isolated incidents. But it is not true, according to newspapers, which have reported massive violence during the elections. We're now concerned about holding fair general elections in 2019.”
He also said it is not desirable that the EC should lose control over the electoral system. SUJAN central committee coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarkar, in a written statement, said the first two phases of the UP polls witnessed massive irregularities and violence since the election schedule was announced. Around 56 persons were killed in connection with poll-related violence and some 5,000 were injured, he added. He also said the second phase of polls was held in 639 UPs under 47 districts, adding that polling was marred by violence and irregularities in 39 districts among them. About the candidates who were elected unopposed, Sarkar said, “100 candidates were elected unopposed into the chairpersons’ posts in 1988, 37 in 1997 and 34 in 2003. But this year, a total of 113 chairperson-candidates were elected uncontested in the first three phases.”  The experts said that fair elections can be ensured in the next phase only if the EC, along with the government and political parties, draws lessons from the last two phases of UP polls. They also said the EC should keep in mind that it has absolute power in conducting elections as it is its duty to organise fair polls. The EC has to apply its full power to ensure free and fair elections, as otherwise the nation would not pardon its members, he added.

VIOLENCE IN UP POLLS

Experts ask EC members to quit

Election experts yesterday said that members of the Election Commission (EC) should step down for their failure to check violence and irregularities in the ongoing union parishad (UP) polls. They also observed that the EC failure has proved that it is not possible to hold fair polls under party banners as it could not prevent violence, strong-arm tactics by political cadres and massive irregularities in the current elections. They were speaking at a press conference, organised by Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN), at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital to discuss the ongoing UP polls across the country in different phases. SUJAN secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said, The EC is a hindrance to fair polls. It has surpassed the MA Aziz-led commission under the BNP regime. It has destroyed our entire election system. It is a matter of grave concern. The Aziz-led commission had become controversial before the ninth parliamentary polls and, eventually, all its members had to step down. The local government elections have been defiled. The EC has lost its control over elections as result of its incompetence and inefficiency. Its now too late to reassert such control, Majumdar added. He also said the current commission does not understand the concept of elections. Poll-related violence has increased because of the decision to arrange elections under party symbols. Members of the EC have failed to hold fair polls. They should resign by taking responsibility for such failure, he added. Muhammad Jahangir, a national committee member of SUJAN, said, Both the government and the EC claimed that the UP polls have been fair, barring some isolated incidents. But it is not true, according to newspapers, which have reported massive violence during the elections. Were now concerned about holding fair general elections in 2019. He also said it is not desirable that the EC should lose control over the electoral system. SUJAN central committee coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarkar, in a written statement, said the first two phases of the UP polls witnessed massive irregularities and violence since the election schedule was announced. Around 56 persons were killed in connection with poll-related violence and some 5,000 were injured, he added. He also said the second phase of polls was held in 639 UPs under 47 districts, adding that polling was marred by violence and irregularities in 39 districts among them. About the candidates who were elected unopposed, Sarkar said, 100 candidates were elected unopposed into the chairpersons posts in 1988, 37 in 1997 and 34 in 2003. But this year, a total of 113 chairperson-candidates were elected uncontested in the first three phases. The experts said that fair elections can be ensured in the next phase only if the EC, along with the government and political parties, draws lessons from the last two phases of UP polls. They also said the EC should keep in mind that it has absolute power in conducting elections as it is its duty to organise fair polls. The EC has to apply its full power to ensure free and fair elections, as otherwise the nation would not pardon its members, he added.