Bloodshed makes mockery of polls

The ongoing union parishad polls redefined the universal definition of election. It has also presented a new model of ballots, which matches no international standards for elections.

Now, the election, according to the new model, is no more a peaceful mechanism for people to choose their representatives casting votes. 

More than 100 people were killed and a few thousands were injured in electoral violence since February. Incidents of capturing polling stations, stuffing ballot boxes and intimidating opponents were rampant in the last five phases of the elections.

More than 200 chairman candidates were elected uncontested, denying people their right to vote.

All these have surpassed the previous records and have taken the ongoing elections to an unprecedented level.

The ongoing elections mock the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and the spirit of our constitution.  

Article 21 (3) of the UDHR unequivocally says that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

While the world was reeling from the shock and horror of the World War II, the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, adopted the UDHR, recognising the integral role that transparent and open elections play in ensuring the fundamental rights to participatory government.

When these words were penned in 1948, less than half of the world's nations chose their leaders by elections. Now almost all countries do to uphold human rights.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1966 also stressed the need for free and fair elections.

The UN's history and mandate are closely linked to electoral processes. Since the 1960's, elections have played a central role in the implementation of the UN mandate to maintain peace and security.

The UN experts have provided technical assistance in more than 110 countries over the last 25 years to ensure free and fair elections in those countries.

The European Convention of Human Rights also upholds the importance of elections. Article 3 of the first protocol of the convention provides for the right to regular, free and fair elections.

It is because, according to European leaders, the right to free elections is crucial to establishing and maintaining the foundations of an effective and meaningful democracy governed by the rule of law.

Our constitution also speaks unequivocally for democracy and human rights. According to article 11 of the constitution, Bangladesh shall be a democracy in which fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth of the human person shall be guaranteed, and in which effective participation by the people through their elected representatives in administration at all levels shall be ensured.

Democracy means a form of government in which people choose leaders by voting.

In the local government system, union parishad is the lowest tier of the administration and in which effective participation of people must be ensured through their elected representatives.

Article 59 of the constitution upholds the spirit stipulated in article 11 by saying that a local government body shall be composed of people elected according to the law.

According to a definition stated in the local government (union parishad) election rules 2010 "election" means direct election to chairmen and members of union parishads.

The term "direct election" means an election in which citizens vote directly instead of having representatives voting for them.

To ensure free and fair elections, our constitution provides the Election Commission with considerable powers.

The local government (union parishad) election rules 2010 also criminalise electoral irregularities like capturing polling stations and stuffing ballot boxes. An individual may be sentenced to jail for up to six years if s/he is found guilty of committing an electoral offence.

But nothing could boost the EC to deliver on its mandate. It appears to be just an eyewitness to rampant electoral irregularities. Lack of actions keep deteriorating the situation, increasing the death toll in election violence.

Yet, the EC remains nonchalant.

Therefore, the ongoing elections to union parishads cannot be compared to any international practice or a definition of election.

It has become our own model developed by the current EC-led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and his colleagues.

A model that is nothing but a mockery of elections.