EC, police must prevent poll violence

It is alarming that violence has broken out in at least 18 districts at the very outset of the election campaign. An attack was launched on the convoy of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, campaigning was obstructed in the areas of Moudud Ahmed and Moyeen Khan, the home of a Jubo League activist in Bogura was attacked, and others instances of violence and clashes took place elsewhere. The most tragic incidents were in Noakhali and Faridpur where a Jubo League activist and an Awami League activist were killed.

Almost all the incidents were met with blaming and counter blaming. Even after the attack on BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul’s peaceful procession of vehicles, Awami League activists blamed BNP for the incident, terming it as an attempt at cheap publicity. The police officer-in-charge (OC) at Thakurgaon assured that the matter was being investigated and action would be taken. However, the slow reaction of the police and lack of any initiative to control the situation leaves us concerned and confused. The chief election commissioner’s remarks that he was pained and perturbed are not enough. The EC must bear the brunt of police failure. The EC must show that it has issued correct directives to the police.

The law enforcement must certainly take responsibility to contain the spread of violence. Since it has come down to a blaming match, it is to be seen how impartially the police tackles the situation and takes due action. With 30 December looming large ahead, even minor incidents of violence must not go ignored.

Speaking in Karwan Bazar yesterday, the home minster said, “The security forces are efficient. No challenge is too big for them. They are prepared to tackle any situation.” That is not enough to reassure us. It has become a norm for certain disruptions to occur, but the attack on the BNP secretary general’s convoy at the very start of the campaigning is simply not acceptable.

We hope that those behind the incident are immediately identified, action is taken against them and the results of the investigation are made public. This will prove that the police are fulfilling their duties. The armed forces, paramilitary and elite forces will be deployed during the election, but it is the police who are responsible for maintaining law and order.

All quarters involved in the election agree on the need for a level playing field. The police must remain clean in their dealings. The ruling party must want this too. Cabinet members will get security facilities, not protocol. So long, a large section of the police was involved in maintaining protocol which diverted their attention away from more important matters. The cabinet members including the prime minister will go on campaign tours and the security and peace of the areas they visit must be ensured. The law and democratic norms require that security must also be ensured for the senior leaders of the main opposition, their public rallies and their trips. The attack on Mirza Fakhrul’s convoy points to a glaring lack in law and order.

It is said, morning shows the day. If there is such violence at the very outset of the election campaign, then there is cause for concern. The police must allay our fears.