Show of strength can’t ensure free, fair election

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has said all political parties have to join the general election to make it an inclusive one and that show of strength on the streets cannot ensure free and fair polls.

He made the comment at a time when the ruling Awami League and its archrival BNP took to the streets to show off their political strength.

Exchange of words between some top leaders of the two major political parties have heated up the political arena recently.

"Every political party is saying that they will see others on the streets and there will be a test of strength on the streets. As the chief election commissioner, I will say that a democratic election will not take place only by showing off strength on the streets," Habibul told reporters at the Election Commission office yesterday.

He said political parties have to take part in the elections. "You [parties] have to ensure an effective competition. Without it, you cannot have a democratic election.

"Because we will not create the balance [in the electoral race] by using police. The balance will be created through the competition between the political parties. If they don't create that balance, it will not be possible to hold the election in a fair and credible manner with the help of the police and military," Habibul observed.

The CEC made the comments while sharing with journalists his experience of Nepal tour and observing the polls in the neighboring country.

He said the government is a separate entity with ministries and departments, with whom the EC needs to work. It will be impossible to make the election successful without the sincere support and goodwill of the government.

Habibul said the EC won't be able to conduct fair elections without a consensus among the political parties. "There is no dialogue between the political parties at all...but that needs to happen."

The BNP is still refusing to join the next national election if it is conducted by the incumbent EC and under a political government.

The opposition party is holding a series of rallies in divisional cities to press home its demands, including formation of an election-time caretaker government ahead of the parliamentary polls and reconstitution of EC following the formation the interim government.

The last of the BNP's 10 rallies will be held in Dhaka on December 10.

Addressing the rallies, some BNP leaders threatened that they would unseat the government. However, party leaders later said they do not have such plans.

The BNP might announce the outline of a simultaneous movement with like-minded parties to press home their demands, said party sources.

As the recent BNP rallies in different cities drew huge crowds despite transport strikes, the Awami League is also holding rallies and taking up programmes across the country apparently to show off its strength.

Thousands of AL leaders and activists gathered at rallies in Jashore yesterday and that of Jubo League in the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan on November 11. Participation of AL activists was huge at the council sessions of the party's Chuadanga, Jhenidah, Barguna, and Laxmipur district units held this month.