Jan 5 polls were ‘unavoidable’

Says outgoing CEC Kazi Rakibuddin

The outgoing chief election commissioner (CEC), Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, said yesterday that the January 5, 2014 parliamentary polls had to be held for the constitutional and democratic process to continue unhindered. 
“When all national and international attempts to bring about consensus among the political parties to take part in the election failed, there was no other option left but to hold the poll with the participation of those in favour of transfer of power through the ballot,” he said. 
The CEC was addressing journalists at a press briefing at the media centre of the Election Commission, on completion of the EC's five-year tenure. He spoke about the ups and downs the commission went through during this period. 
Rakibuddin said: “The January 5 general election was held to continue with the constitutional and democratic process at a vital juncture in the nation's history.” 
He blamed the political parties that boycotted the polls for the violence. "There was massive loss of lives and damage to properties for their attempts to foil the poll. Few will realise how difficult it is to hold elections in such a violent situation.  Had the elections not been held, there would have been anarchy. The commission faced the situation boldly and held the polls,” he added. 

Rakibuddin claimed they faced various challenges during the five years and tackled them. There was no pressure from any quarter and the commission worked impartially. “After taking the oath, I had said that the EC members would prove themselves worthy by working impartially. We have done that. We organised six city corporation polls in a fair way, barring some stray incidents. At that time, top leaders of the major political parties that boycotted the elections met me and congratulated me for holding fair polls. The leaders also told me that they criticised the commission before the media for the sake of politics. They even said we should not to mind it,” he added. 
Pointing to journalists, Rakibuddin said: “I’ve worked with you for a long time. If I have ever hurt any of you unwittingly, I beg forgiveness. Nothing is personal. What I did was for the country and for you.”  He thanked all, including political parties, for cooperating with the commission. “I sincerely thank you for your support. I acknowledge that we could not have done anything without your support. The credit for the good we did goes to you. For the wrong done, the responsibility is ours.” 
To a query on the collapse of electoral system, the outgoing CEC said: “Bangladesh is a free country. There is free discussion here. The press is more independent compared to other developing counties. Everybody has the right to give his/her opinion. We don’t want to make any comment in this regard.” 
To another query, Rakibuddin said: “Self-evaluation is not correct. Evaluation should be external. History is not written in a day. It takes time.”
Asked whether they had faced any pressure from outside, Rakibuddin said: “Frankly speaking, I personally did not get any phone calls and was not under pressure from anybody as to how I should go about my work. What we did, we did impartially.”
Regarding unopposed polls, he said: “Uncontested elections are in the law. It is not only in our law, but also in the law of many developed countries. The EC has nothing to do here. It’s a political game. If you don’t take part in elections, other people will score a goal unopposed.”
“If there is violence during polls, the participation decreases. The voter turnout also drops,” he added. 
“Nowadays, positive changes have come about in the political parties of the country. The parties were not always free to practise democracy. Sometimes black hands stopped the democratic process. It will take time. Democracy means allowing others to speak and to respect,” he noted. 

Jan 5 polls were unavoidable

Says outgoing CEC Kazi Rakibuddin

The outgoing chief election commissioner (CEC), Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, said yesterday that the January 5, 2014 parliamentary polls had to be held for the constitutional and democratic process to continue unhindered. When all national and international attempts to bring about consensus among the political parties to take part in the election failed, there was no other option left but to hold the poll with the participation of those in favour of transfer of power through the ballot, he said. The CEC was addressing journalists at a press briefing at the media centre of the Election Commission, on completion of the ECs five-year tenure. He spoke about the ups and downs the commission went through during this period. Rakibuddin said: The January 5 general election was held to continue with the constitutional and democratic process at a vital juncture in the nations history. He blamed the political parties that boycotted the polls for the violence. There was massive loss of lives and damage toproperties for their attempts to foil the poll. Few will realise how difficult it is to hold elections in such a violent situation. Had the elections not been held, there would have been anarchy. The commission faced the situation boldly and held the polls, he added. Rakibuddin claimed they faced various challenges during the five years and tackled them. There was no pressure from any quarter and the commission worked impartially. After taking the oath, I had said that the EC members would prove themselves worthy by working impartially. We have done that. We organised six city corporation polls in a fair way, barring some stray incidents. At that time, top leaders of the major political parties that boycotted the elections met me and congratulated me for holding fair polls. The leaders also told me that they criticised the commission before the media for the sake of politics. They even said we should not to mind it, he added. Pointing to journalists, Rakibuddin said: Ive worked with you for a long time. If I have ever hurt any of you unwittingly, I beg forgiveness. Nothing is personal. What I did was for the country and for you. He thanked all, including political parties, for cooperating with the commission. I sincerely thank you for your support. I acknowledge that we could not have done anything without your support. The credit for the good we did goes to you. For the wrong done, the responsibility is ours. To a query on the collapse of electoral system, the outgoing CEC said: Bangladesh is a free country. There is free discussion here. The press is more independent compared to other developing counties. Everybody has the right to give his/her opinion. We dont want to make any comment in this regard. To another query, Rakibuddin said: Self-evaluation is not correct. Evaluation should be external. History is not written in a day. It takes time. Asked whether they had faced any pressure from outside, Rakibuddin said: Frankly speaking, I personally did not get any phone calls and was not under pressure from anybody as to how I should go about my work. What we did, we did impartially. Regarding unopposed polls, he said: Uncontested elections are in the law. It is not only in our law, but also in the law of many developed countries. The EC has nothing to do here. Its a political game. If you dont take part in elections, other people will score a goal unopposed. If there is violence during polls, the participation decreases. The voter turnout also drops, he added. Nowadays, positive changes have come about in the political parties of the country. The parties were not always free to practise democracy. Sometimes black hands stopped the democratic process. It will take time. Democracy means allowing others to speak and to respect, he noted.