Why is EC a silent observer in city polls?

As the elections to the three city corporations draw nearer, unrest and agitation increase. Claims by the opposition BNP that their people are being arrested and harassed, are not totally unfounded. A level playing field is the prerequisite for any election. The election commission has failed to ensure that. In fact, the voters do not see any effort on the part of the election commission to this end. So doubts remain concerning how free and credible the 30 July election will actually be.

According to the election laws, once the election schedule is announced, members of the local administration and law enforcement are placed under the election commission and are to follow the commission’s orders. The role of the local administration and law enforcement gave rise to controversy and debate in the recently held Khulna and Gazipur elections. That is why we have been calling for the election commission to conduct the elections to the three city corporations with a firm hand. However, though the election commission speaks about a level playing field for all, this is not reflected in its actions and behaviour.

There may not have been en masse arrests in the three cities, but the BNP mayor candidate in Sylhet had to stage sit-in programmes twice. The first time was to get party workers released from police detention. The second sit-in was staged in front of the police deputy commissioner’s office as the police had arrested party workers but were denying it. Such incidents are an obstacle to a free election and also point to the incompetence of the election commission.

The crude bomb explosion in Rajshahi was a matter of concern as such acts of violence haven’t taken place in the recent elections. Based on phone conversations, police arrested a local BNP leader in this connection. Stern action must be taken against anyone involved in such violence. However, the law enforcement agencies must make sure that no one innocent is unnecessarily harassed.

In Rajshahi, certain women activists of Jamaat-e-Islami were sentenced to one month imprisonment for spreading malicious rumours against a candidate. Anyone is free to campaign for any candidate, but not to spread malicious propaganda.

At the beginning, the election environment in the three city corporations was peaceful. However, a few incidents later created unrest. The ruling party obstructed the opposition in its campaign, but the election commission remained a silent observer. Complaints were filed, but to no avail.

Things are still under control but the opposition candidates fear that on the eve of the election or on the election day itself, their polling agents will be picked up by the police. The police crackdown on BNP’s polling agents in Khulna and Gazipur created an alarm in the public mind. The election commission must be on high alert to ensure that similar incidents do not take place in Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barishal. The relevant quarters must be instructed that no harassment and no arrests are to be made on the day before the election and on the election day itself.

The election commission in no way can remain a silent observer in such important polls as the elections to the three city corporations.