All hope is not lost for voters

The Narayanganj mayoral elections should set an example of what is termed as free, fair and peaceful, even though the defeated BNP candidate, Advocate Shakhawat Hossain Khan, said that there was ‘fine’ manipulation in the election process. In the polling centres before the constant wide eyes of the media and the presence of many election observers, voters voted for their candidates of choice in a peaceful atmosphere. Hardly any news of fake voting and untoward incidents were reported. The immense popularity of incumbent mayor of the city Selina Hayat Ivy also seems to confirm the landslide for her. The bonhomie of the two candidates before and after the election proves that all is not lost for voters in Bangladesh.  
The campaign time before the election was also exceptional. When it has become a trend in the country that during election campaign supporters of rival candidates engage in vicious and nasty games, get locked in clashes often resulting in deaths, the campaign time before Narayanganj polls was rather ‘civil’ and supporters of both the candidates showed unusual restraint.  
This was due to the fact that both Ivy and Shakhawat possess relatively better personalities as politicians. The way these candidates maintained pre- and post-election atmosphere in Narayanganj should thus serve as a lesson for the politicians all over the country who intend to participate in elections as candidates, nationally or locally. Ivy and Shakhawat’s behaviour as candidate should be emulated.
Since the personality factor of the candidate was the main reason for this exceptionally-held election, the Election Commission has little to claim as credit for it. This has been noted by many observers of the elections. But it should be particularly mentioned here that Thursday’s Narayanganj polls are an exception, not the rule and if Election Commission could be able to conduct polls in this vein in future in majority elections, only then it can be taken as a success for the Election Commission. This constitutional body must always deliver in line with what the voters in Bangladesh actually want.  
In the recent years when the local government elections one after another across the country made the voters hopeless about the prospect of polling in Bangladesh, Narayangaj’s mayoral polls will stand out as a beacon for them and it is expected that politicians, the government, the Election Commission would act accordingly as per the demand of voters. Let them make their choice. Election is the beauty of democracy and all the stakeholders in it should be able to preserve and uphold it.

 

 

All hope is not lost for voters

The Narayanganj mayoral elections should set an example of what is termed as free, fair and peaceful, even though the defeated BNP candidate, Advocate Shakhawat Hossain Khan, said that there was fine manipulation in the election process. In the polling centres before the constant wide eyes of the media and the presence of many election observers, voters voted for their candidates of choice in a peaceful atmosphere. Hardly any news of fake voting and untoward incidents were reported. The immense popularity of incumbent mayor of the city Selina Hayat Ivy also seems to confirm the landslide for her. The bonhomie of the two candidates before and after the election proves that all is not lost for voters in Bangladesh. The campaign time before the election was also exceptional. When it has become a trend in the country that during election campaign supporters of rival candidates engage in vicious and nasty games, get locked in clashes often resulting in deaths, the campaign time before Narayanganj polls was rather civil and supporters of both the candidates showed unusual restraint. This was due to the fact that both Ivy and Shakhawat possess relatively better personalities as politicians. The way these candidates maintained pre- and post-election atmosphere in Narayanganj should thus serve as a lesson for the politicians all over the country who intend to participate in elections as candidates, nationally or locally. Ivy and Shakhawats behaviour as candidate should be emulated. Since the personality factor of the candidate was the main reason for this exceptionally-held election, the Election Commission has little to claim as credit for it. This has been noted by many observers of the elections. But it should be particularly mentioned here that Thursdays Narayanganj polls are an exception, not the rule and if Election Commission could be able to conduct polls in this vein in future in majority elections, only then it can be taken as a success for the Election Commission. This constitutional body must always deliver in line with what the voters in Bangladesh actually want. In the recent years when the local government elections one after another across the country made the voters hopeless about the prospect of polling in Bangladesh, Narayangajs mayoral polls will stand out as a beacon for them and it is expected that politicians, the government, the Election Commission would act accordingly as per the demand of voters. Let them make their choice. Election is the beauty of democracy and all the stakeholders in it should be able to preserve and uphold it.