Murders, low voter turnout marred recent polls: Report

The last couple of elections in the country were mired with a rising trend of violence while voter turnout and participation of candidates decreased, states an annual study report of the Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD).

The clashes among political parties and intra-party feuds during these elections resulted in deaths and injuries of party men, found the report titled, “The State of Governance Bangladesh 2016: Regulation Process Performance”.

The BIGD of Brac University launched the report at a programme in the capital's Brac Centre Inn.

Referring to violence centring the recently concluded Union Parishad (UP) elections, it said Dhaka division ranked top with 35 murders followed by Rajshahi (24), Chittagong (23), Barisal (16), Khulna (13), and Sylhet (5).

Of these, about 60 were caused by intra-ruling party violence, it added.

Internal feuds and intense competition for nomination were behind violence, it said referring to candidates participating with party symbols and ruling party supporters and operatives involving themselves in selecting candidates and spreading money to ensure victories.

Influence of money at the nomination stage pushed  candidates to attempt to win at all costs, including through use of force, to get a return on their investments, causing widespread electoral violence, the BIGD observed.

Voter turnout was found to be low in local government elections including the city corporation, upazila parishad, union parishad and municipal elections, it said.

However, the voter turnout has been low in recent city corporation elections of Dhaka north and south and Chittagong in comparison to other city corporation elections held in the last several years, it added.

However, the participation of candidates in some elections including the 10th national and city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong have been affected by boycotts by the main opposition party, which may have also resulted in a lower voter turnout, the report mentioned.

Recent local and national elections lacked a competitive process, it said, adding that there is no transparency about electoral fundraising and spending and reports filed with the Election Commission.

Commenting on electoral governance, Transparency International Bangladesh's Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said politicisation of the state machineries led to “controversial” elections in Bangladesh. “After the '90's, the state machineries were politicised and counter-politicised by different governments. This has contributed to absence of good governance in the election system,” he said.

He added that the state organs must be independent and empowered to hold a participatory and credible election.

Renowned economist Prof Wahiuddin Mahmud and BIGD Executive Director Sultan Hafeez Rahman also spoke.