Political thinkers have expressed the opinion that the election system should be radically reformed based on national consensus.
They expressed this opinion in a seminar titled ‘Free and fair elections in Bangladesh: effective and sustainable reforms’ organized at Maulana Akram Khan Hall of the National Press Club at 11 am on Saturday. The seminar was organized by the National Council of Political Thought (NCPT).
Abdul Latif Masum, former Vice-Chancellor of Patuakhali University of Science and Technology and former Professor of Government and Politics Department of Jahangirnagar University, President of National National Council of National Thought, presided over the seminar.
The seminar started with the welcome speech of Dil Roshan Jinnat Ara Nazneen, General Secretary of Jatiya Rashtrachinta Parishad, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University and Professor of Political Science Department of Dhaka University.
Professor Nazneen said, ‘We have been agitating for democracy all our lives. The desire for democracy was behind every movement during the Pakistan period. Behind the independence war of 1971 was the pain of not getting democracy and the desire to get democracy. We will vote freely, free elections, that was our desire. Within a few years of independence, Bakshal composed the grave of our democracy. It banned political parties and banned all but four newspapers. Martyr President Ziaur Rahman came and gave freedom to democracy. He came and gave freedom to political parties and newspapers.’
He also said, ‘During the dictatorial Awami period, I myself went to vote and saw that my vote was over. That is, no people could vote fairly. After the coup of July-August we began to be optimistic. Now maybe elections will be held under the interim government. We hope there will be a fair election.’
Professor of Political Studies Department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology presented the main article in the seminar. Nazrul Islam.
In the article, he said, ‘Bangladesh’s experience shows that it was not possible to hold elections freely and fairly under the party government. The latest 2014, 2018 and 2024 tenth, eleventh and twelfth parliamentary elections respectively are the burning evidence of this. Basically under the party government even if the government wants to hold fair elections and after making the election commission independent and strong it is not possible to hold fair elections. Because, the entire election is conducted by the people of the executive branch of the government – bureaucratic administration officials and government/private sector employees. The Election Commission only provides logistical support and guiding principles there. The members of the government administration at the grass root level complete the executive activities in this regard.
He also said, ‘Bangladesh’s experience also shows that the ruling government and the party in power are completely unwilling to accept defeat in the elections. They are unwilling to accept defeat through free and fair elections. This does not seem likely to change in the near future. So there is no alternative to a non-party government for free and fair elections, but a non-party caretaker government/interim government, by whatever name it may be called. Therefore, the main area of electoral reform should be the re-establishment of a non-partisan caretaker government. Also, several areas of reform need to be considered to eliminate the flaws in the electoral process of the Election Commission and to make elections truly free and fair in Bangladesh. These include institutional reforms, legal reforms and procedural changes to increase transparency and ensure accountability.’
In his speech, the President of the National Council of National Thought, Prof. Abdul Latif Masum said, ‘People have lost their right to vote in Patano elections like 2008, 2014, 2018 and 2024. After the fascist Sheikh Hasina escaped in the book River of Blood in this student revolution, he has been tasked with radically changing the fascist electoral system. The Election Commission has to change this on the basis of national consensus.
He further said, ‘So many people sacrificed their lives for the right to vote – gave their lives, were injured, were killed, shed their blood, became martyrs. How many people died in July-August. One of the many demands was the establishment of the right to vote. The new election commission should take that responsibility on its shoulders. Initiatives should be taken to create an environment in which people can spontaneously vote for whoever they want. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasiruddin has given a commitment, we want to believe in him.
Professor Masum said, ‘Chief Election Commissioner should proceed by learning from past elections. I think he understands the pulse of the student body. It is expected that he will succeed by returning the much-desired voting rights of the people.’
The seminar was moderated by Dhaka University Political Science Department Associate Professor Kazi Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman.
Professor Tarek Fazal of Rajshahi University Political Science Department, Dhaka University Political Science Professor SM Ali Reza, Professor Shariful Islam of the same department, Jagannath University Political Science Department Chairman Mejbah Ul-Azam Saudagar, Security Analyst Zia Hasan, Northern University Professor ABM Mahbubul also spoke. Islam, former secretary Sheikh Motahar Hossain, political thinker Shah Abdul Halim and Sheikh Borhanuddin Post Graduate Associate Professor Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman is the chairman of the political science department of the college.
(Dhaka Times/23 November/SK)
Source: www.dhakatimes24.com
