Photo : Messenger
The Election Commission has completed a dialogue with all the registered political parties (44) ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. The aims and purpose of the meeting are to inform and share about the preparations of the election commission for the upcoming parliamentary election before the political parties. For this reason, the election commission has invited the president and general secretary of the parties, or two representatives appointed by them, to the dialogue. At the same time, Awami League and BNP have been organising processions, rallies and counter-rallies all over the country to boost their organisational capacity and public opinion in front of the elections.
We know that, according to the constitution, parliamentary elections must be held within 90 days before the end of the five-year term of parliament. However, BNP and eight opposition parties did not participate in that dialogue. They said that the current election commission can't organise free, fair and participatory elections. However, in March 2023, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal issued a semi-official letter inviting BNP for formal or informal talks. But BNP did not respond to the invitation, said an election commissioner.
The Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh said the multi-party democratic governance system in the country is on the way. The constitution of Bangladesh is the ultimate expression of the will of the country's all people. The constitution declares that all powers in the Republic belong to the people. Free and impartial parliamentary elections are one of the main means of establishing the people's ownership of state power. Already, the current election commission has conducted thousands of local government elections at various levels, including 16 parliamentary by-elections, in the last 20 months after assuming office.
It is known that, from the speech to the chief election commissioner, according to the provisions of Article 65 of the Constitution, the National Parliament consists of 300 general seats and 50 reserved seats for women (where they are elected based on adult Franchise). The government has repeatedly expressed its clear commitment to making the upcoming parliamentary elections fair, free, impartial, participatory and peaceful. The commission will also discharge its duties with honesty, integrity and sincerity to the best of its ability and by taking all necessary assistance from the government to make the upcoming parliamentary elections free, fair and peaceful.
The Chief Election Commissioner said the election can be fair, free, impartial and participatory only through the concerted cooperation and participation of all in the process concerned. All candidates and political parties participating in the elections must follow the electoral code of conduct. All officers engaged in electoral duties must also perform their duties with honesty and devotion by properly realising, following and applying the laws and rules and regulations. The Commission has implemented various training programmes to familiarise them with electoral laws and regulations. The law-enforcing forces must ensure the overall security of the candidates, voters, election officials and the general public apart from ensuring security in the surrounding areas of the polling centres.
The Election Commission will always welcome the participation and contestation of all parties in the elections. Reaching consensus and resolution through dialogue is not impossible, avoiding mutual revenge, mistrust and lack of confidence. Absolute tolerance, mutual trust and solidarity are the essential indicators for a sustainable and stable democracy. For conducting the 12th national parliamentary elections, the voter list has been updated. The demarcation of constituencies has been completed. The registration process of new political parties and interested local and foreign election observers has been completed. The total number of voters in the country is about 11,970,00,000. The number of polling centres is around 42,000. Voting will be held at 2,62,000 booths. The commission fixed the schedule for the 12th national elections on Sunday, January 7, 2024. The general election of the 12th national parliament will be held in 300 seats.
The Chief Election Commissioner declared that the vote is yours, do not be influenced by anyone's interference or inducement in voting. If you face any kind of interference or obstacle, resist it individually or collectively. If necessary, immediately inform the presiding officer of the center. The presiding officer is legally responsible and bound to ensure the freedom of voters to exercise their right to vote by resisting any ill attempt at any cost. So, it’s the proactive initiative from the election commission of Bangladesh to the voters of the election.
Now we see some steps from the Election Commission and in those steps, the government also cooperates to make the decision properly. Two deputy commissioners, who were appointed as returning officers, were transferred ahead of the 12th national elections upon the Election Commission's request, with officials indicating more changes may come in the coming days. Earlier, the EC asked the government to transfer the officers-in-charge (OCs) of all police stations and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) across the country. Step by step, the government approves the desire of the election commission to conduct a free and fair election across the country.
The army will likely be deployed across the country for 13 days starting December 29 to ensure security before, during, and after the 12th parliamentary elections slated for January 7.
The Election Commission will request that the president permit this. Hopefully, the president will permit the Bangladesh army to conduct the liabilities before the election continues. But the president will then make the final decision. More than 35,000 army personnel were deployed during the 11th parliamentary election in 2018 to aid civil administration. Last time, the deployment was in 388 upazilas in the country.
From the above explanation, it is said that the election commission of Bangladesh and the government of Bangladesh are committed to conducting a free and fair election. For seeing the preparation and steps of the election commission the people of Bangladesh understand that the EC is liable before the people of Bangladesh to ensure and secure the polling centre for voting properly. The Election Commission has already taken several initiatives to construct an environment for a fair election and the government also cooperates under the demand of election commission. So, we hope that the upcoming 12th national election of Bangladesh will be well accepted nationally and globally. It is also a big challenge for the election commission to conduct a free and fair election because the conspiracy also begins national and abroad. Some of our diplomatic friends try to influence our election process illegally.
However, it is also responsibility for the political parties and voters to participate willingly in voting for ensuring the free and fair election in every polling centres.
The writer is Assistant Professor and Chairman, Department of Criminology and Police Science, University of Chittagong
Messenger/Disha
