Polls system coming apart

The country's democratic system will collapse and there is a need to wage a movement with fresh demands for fair polls, good governance campaigners, politicians and former bureaucrats said yesterday.

Fair polls are the outcome of a well-managed electoral system and also the steppingstone of a country's democratic system, they said at a discussion marking the "Seventh National Council-2020" of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan).

There is no alternative to fair polls when it comes to ensuring good governance, they added.

Shujan, which campaigns for good governance, arranged the daylong programme at the auditorium of Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh in the city.

Addressing the discussion as chief guest, former chief election commissioner Mohammad Abu Hena said reforms have been made over the years to improve the country's electoral system and better functioning of the Election Commission to strengthen the democratic system.

He said one major reform in the system was to make public affidavits of polls candidates while another was the registration of political parties.  

However, despite these initiatives, the results or achievement were not as expected, he added.

Abu Hena said such reforms will not bear fruit if their implementation is not effective, adding that any institution becomes effective if competent people work for it.

The official voter turnout in the 11th parliamentary polls was more than 80 percent but it might have been 30 percent in reality, said noted economist and former caretaker government adviser Akbar Ali Khan. 

An additional 50 percent voter turnout was shown "farcically", he said.

Akbar said voter turnout remained below 30 percent in the municipality polls.

Usually, the average voter turnout in national polls remain lower because political party candidates are not as organised at the grassroots as the local candidates of union parishad or municipality polls are, he said.

During the union parishad or municipality polls, local candidates remain proactive and they put extra effort to make their relatives and friends cast votes for them, he added.

"So, the [average] voter turnout of national elections can in no way surpass that of municipality polls," he further said.

Akbar also said the EC should examine the turnout at each polling centre before declaring the election result.

If the turnout is 100 percent, 98 percent or even 95 percent, they should immediately suspend the voting on the grounds of "false votes", he said.

If the EC can monitor voting results this way, then many irregularities will be found, he added.

On the use of electronic voting machines, he said it seems effective considering the technology. 

However, there are controversies in many countries regarding the EVMs and it is necessary to be cautious about their use in Bangladesh, he added.

Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki said at present the countrymen are experiencing an "authoritarian electoral system", adding that vote rigging had taken place in different elections. But people were unable to unearth the secret behind it because various confusions has risen.

He alleged that under the present situation, voters found it difficult to go to the polling centres.

Even if they could reach, there were "helpers" to stamp on the ballot paper or push the button on electronic voting machines, he added.

Terming election as the "first effective step" of democracy, Shujan Secretary and good governance campaigner Badiul Alam Majumdar said if polls are not held in fair manner then the overall democratic system will collapse.

Election is the only way to transit power in a peaceful manner. If the peace is obstructed, the country's future will face uncertainty, he said.

At the programme, Shujan, as part of its council manifesto, placed a 20-point proposal to bring reform in the country's political arena.

One of the points is to bring changes in the country's electoral system by introducing a "proportional representation" electoral system and make required amendments to the related laws to "regain people's trust" regarding elections.

Shujan President and former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said polls is a major component to ensure good governance but the country's electoral system is now being marred.

"There is doubt whether we will see any free and fair election in the future," he said, adding that, if needed, the countrymen have to work hard to re-establish a fair polls atmosphere in the country.

Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumdar said making public polls candidates' affidavits is a major reform in the country's electoral system and Shujan's campaign was significant behind it.

Referring to low voter turnouts, Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Rana Dasgupta said the country's political parties should take people's lack of enthusiasm in exercising voting rights into consideration with importance and find the reasons behind it.

Leftist politician Comrade Khalequzzaman of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Mohammad Nazrul Islam of Bangladesh Kalyan Party also spoke at the programme.