No more caretaker government system
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (retd) Oli Ahmad apprehends scope of vote rigging also in the December 18 parliamentary elections.
“Nobody can say all previous elections were free and fair…. This time also there is scope of stuffing (manipulated) ballot papers in the (ballot) boxes if candidates and presiding officials have understanding between them,” said Oli in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star.
The veteran freedom fighter suggests that the caretaker government take measures to ensure mandatory presentation of voters' ID cards at all polling centres, and recording their numbers so that no candidate and political party can reject the election results.
Oli also proposed the government should launch a special drive to recover arms and arrest criminals at least 15 days before the election.
Protesting the government decision on holding the next parliamentary election under the state of emergency, the LDP chief noted that national elections are held across the country, and not in limited areas like city corporation polls (held recently).
“The present caretaker government has no legal authority to remain in power or compel political parties to comply with its sweet will,” he said.
Oli thinks there should be no caretaker government in future. He termed this system of government an 'illegitimate brainchild' of some political leaders seeking to destroy the political institution. “Political parties and leaders must learn how to trust each other and behave with responsibility. It is a shame for us. If we do not trust each other how people would trust us,” he said.
On holding upazila election, the LDP leader said it is the duty of the Election Commission(EC), and politicians should not oppose holding the election on December 28.
He stressed that people who are directly involved with political parties or closely linked to them must not be allowed as observers in the next election.
Oli welcomed the EC's decision about front or associate organisations of political parties.
The main lesson for the politicians from 1/11 is that the country has not been leased to any political parties, he said.
Comments