Free, fair polls not possible under partisan govt: Shujan

Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) has said the experiences of the previous and the recent Gaibandha-5 by-election prove that a free and fair national election is not possible under a partisan government.

Speaking at a virtual press conference yesterday, Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said it is proved under a political government, the Election Commission cannot successfully conduct a by-election, the result of which would not bring about any change in power.

"This is mainly because of limitless politicisation of the administration and the law enforcement agencies. In fact, recent experience prove that even the Election Commission is politicised when elections are held under the government ... ," Badiul said.

The press conference was titled "What message the Gaibhandha-5 by-polls has sent".

In a rare move, the EC suspended the by-polls on October 12 saying that situation went "out of control" due to widespread electoral irregularities.

While monitoring CCTV stream at the EC office in the capital, officials saw illegal presence of individuals in polling booths and also voters being forced to vote for a certain candidate.

Badiul said the commission blamed the administration and law enforcement agencies for their failure in performing election duties in the by-election, which are electoral offences.

Now it has to be seen whether the EC can take action against the culprits. This will prove how strict they are regarding the matter, he added.

Badiul said the message from the by-election is that in order to prevent fraud in the next Jatiya Sangsad polls, the commission will have to stop more elections.

Although the commission has the power to stop elections, no one expects the EC to use this power as the people expect that elections would be free and fair election, he said.

"In order to avoid the possibility of postponing the national election, the Election Commission will have to tell the government and the ruling political party that they have to ensure neutrality of the administration and law enforcement agencies by amending the constitution regarding the election-time government system."

"Otherwise, it will not be possible for them [EC] to fulfil their constitutional mandate of conducting a free and fair election. The ruling party can easily amend the constitution by using its huge majority in parliament," Badiul said.

He said that to restore its credibility, the EC should go back on its decision of using electronic voting machines in the next general election.