Don’t go for EVM without consensus
The Election Commission should refrain from using electronic voting machines in polls unless there is consensus regarding the use of the technology, eminent citizens said yesterday.
While attending a dialogue with the Election Commission at the EC conference room, invitees also said the last two national elections have shown that it is tough for an election held under a political government to be acceptable to all.
The EC's initiative to hold dialogues with various groups including politicians for recommendations on how to hold free and fair elections got an underwhelming response on the second round of talks yesterday as 19 out of 39 invitees joined the dialogue.
"The use of EVMs is contentious now and it is better to keep a distance from that unless there is national consensus on it," said Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
He said the experience of the 2014 and 2018 national elections shows that proper implementation of power given to the EC in line with constitution and laws depends on the election-time government.
"It will limit your scope to work properly if this structural obstacle is not addressed.
"If you cannot work properly or feel that you are facing obstacles, you should have the courage to resign," he said.
On the use of EVMs, Prof Mustafizur Rahman, another CPD distinguished fellow, said, "No matter how honestly you work, when results come out there will be the doubt that something was done technologically, even after a fair election."
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the EC has become an institution obedient to the government and is no longer a state organ.
"If we assume that the character and behaviour of the election-time government determines to what extent the election will be fair, there should be an assessment on whether there is a need to amend existing laws to change the behaviour."
The EC should propose these changes to the government and stakeholders, he said.
"If you are convinced that holding free and fair elections is impossible without these changes, you should resign ... people will stand beside you," Iftekharuzzaman said.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Mohammed Farashuddin also said appointments and transfers in local administrations should be brought under the EC's control four months prior to the election and two months after it.
He said the EC should propose to the government to keep the parliament inactive for four months from September 30, 2023. The next national election is set to take place in late 2023.
Gonoshasthaya Kendra trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury said some of the current election commissioners are facing questions because of their connections. For example, Md Alamgir was the secretary of the previous commission and Anisur Rahman's father-in-law is a district unit Awami League president, Zafrullah said.
Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumdar, citing India's example, said fair elections are possible under a party government. "But in the context of Bangladesh, the last two elections have failed to prove it.
"… Mistakes of the past cannot be corrected without acknowledgment."
Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam proposed creating a situation in which all eligible voters can cast their votes without fear. Voting access should be ensured for pregnant women, elderly people and people living in remote, hard-to-reach areas.
She also urged the EC to find ways to ban use of plastic in banners during campaigning.
Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples' Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb Drong proposed arranging special security for ethnic minorities before and after elections, and taking special measures so that none can use religion during the election and instigate communalism.
Dhaka University Prof Sheikh Hafizur Rahman said it should be seen whether EC officials, instead of government officers, can be appointed as returning officers and assistant returning officers.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said, "Many people are not used to EVMs. We have to see whether there is any digital fraud ... ."
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