Khulna should not be ‘national election model’

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Harun Ur Rashid
Published : 15:12, May 19, 2018 | Updated : 15:28, May 19, 2018

Harun Ur RashidKhulna city polls ended with the victory of the Awami League backed mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khelq. But opponent Nazrul Islam Monju demanded to recall the election alleging large scale vote rigging. Now it’s the time for the Election Commission (EC) to verify the credibility of the Khulna city corporation (KCC) election which was conducted on Tuesday.
I like to formulate my analysis on KCC mayoral polls in three steps: 1. Pre election situation 2. Voting Day and 3. Post election debate. The fact and figures I use here to examine the electoral process are taken from news reporting and observers remarks.
Pre election situation:
Following the EC schedule the candidates submitted their nomination papers by April 12. These were scrutinised on April 15 and 16 and the last date for withdrawal was April 23. Candidates submitted their affidavits along with their nomination papers attaching personal details regarding their movable and immovable properties.
a) An Affidavit controversy resulted as BNP mayoral candidate Mr. Nazrul Islam Manju filed a written complaint against his Awami League opponent, Mr. Talukdar Abdul Khalek, to the returning officer.
The complaint was: “Talukdar Abdul Khaleq earns a lot of money holding the post of vice president of South Bangla Agriculture and Commerce Bank Ltd’s Board of Directors. He is also beneficiary of North Western University and Eastern Polymer. But he concealed his income and loan details in his election affidavit. The nomination paper does not even mention his voter number.’
However, Awami League leader SM Kamal stated in favour of Talukdar Abdul Khalek that contrary to what was alleged, it was Mr Islam who given false information in his submitted affidavit.
According to the Section 12 of the Local Government (City Corporation) Election Rules, 2010, candidates must submit affidavit with their nomination papers. Concealing or submitting incorrect information in the affidavit would result in cancellation of the nomination paper. But election commission did investigate neither complaint. It is a gross violation of election rules by the Election Commission.
b) Police carried out a special drive in last two weeks before voting day May 15 at Khulna city. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed, Khulna Metropolitan Police and district police arrested more than one hundred BNP leaders and activists in last two weeks. BNP leaders also alleged that the police raided the homes of its activists even in broad daylight.
On May 14 just before 18 hours of voting in KCC the High Court (HC) directed law enforcers not to harass or arrest any political activists in Khulna City Corporation until the election to the city was held.  But even after the order the High Court mass arrest allegedly have been continuing by police authority.
c) On May 10 Ruling party Awami League(AL)  expressed no-confidence in KCC returning officer. Prime Minister’s Political Adviser HT Imam said, ‘His (KCC returning officer Yunus Ali) past is very dark. He had been a cadre of a particular political party which is evident in his behaviour and activities. Yunus Ali is biased towards a particular party.’ Awami League also filed a complaint with EC seeking proper steps against returning officer. But without carrying out any proper investigation on allegation against returning officer EC just dispatched a joint secretary to ‘assist’ him.
BNP demanded removal of KMP commissioner and his allies claiming their biasness. No action was taken here too.
Voting day, May 15:
Starting with long queue of voters KCC mayoral polls was concluded amid allegation of vote rigging, ballot stuffing, muscle flexing, ballot boxes snatching. Authorities had to postpone voting in three polling stations.
Some other irregularities like shortage of ballot papers, intimidation and driving out of agents were also reported. On Wednesday Addressing a press conference  BNP backed candidate Manju claimed re-election in 105 out of  289  centres alleging the ruling party activists occupied those and stuffed ballot boxes with fake votes. He rejected the election claiming large-scale vote rigging.  Although  Awami League candidate Talukder Khaleque dismissing the allegation claimed that the election was held in a free and fair atmosphere . He urged Monju to welcome people's verdict.  'If vote rigging had happened in the election, then how did the BNP candidate get so many votes,’ Khaleque said.
Post election scenario:
Election Working Group (EWG) , an independent election monitoring agent released their observation report on KKC polls on May 16 just after the following day of voting. They observed violence in 32% of the polling centres . Among these, there was violence outside 12 and inside four polling centres, voters were put off from casting their votes in 18 centres, invigilators were barred from entering four centres, election campaign were conducted within 400 metres of 10 centres, and law enforcers took the sides of some candidates in four centres. Even though in the KCC election, these irregularities did not affect the results, said EWG.
But they believe  EC had a lot of scope to make the electoral process more effective and fair. On the same day, US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat expressing disappointment over the reported irregularities in KCC polls said, a transparent investigation was essential.
Not the model for national election:
Election commission was praised by conducting Rangpur City election. They bagged credit by conducting Narayangong and Comilla city polls too. Hence expectation was to hold at least Rangpur standard election in Khulna. But general remarks on KCC election is clearly degradation from Rangpur, Narayangong or Comilla city polls.
Examining the available information on KCC election I like to come out with some imperatives-
1. From the very beginning of the KCC electoral process EC was not serious with the election rules.
2. EC did not address the allegations and counter allegations in proper or legal way.
3. EC had side tracked some legal issues.
4. Returning officer was handicapped by appointing a ‘supervisor’ over him in Khulna.
5. Local police and administration did not follow the EC orders properly; even they allegedly violated high court directions.
6. A controversial returning officer made the election process dubious.
Analyzing these developments and facts I find the whole KCC election process subjected the voters and some candidates to undue pressure. Some people took advantage of this power play. So, in my view, standard `level playing field’ was absent in KCC election somehow.
Participatory and inclusive are popular election terms we are using widely at the moment. No doubt KCC election could accomplish this standard.
‘But electorate votes freely and fearlessly it finally ensures free and fair elections. When a voter on his way to the polling booth gets the message that his vote has been cast, it is nothing but a mockery in the name of free and fair election.’
So I urge to the election commission not to run KCC polls style in Gazipur. Finally Khulna  city election model should not be ‘national election model’.
Writer: Journalist

Emai: [email protected]

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***The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions and views of Bangla Tribune.
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