Apparently Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh along with the military backed interim government has overcome a very big obstacle in the path of election process. As the result of the first set of local government election is not rejected by any party or candidate yet, it can be termed as a success for the EC Road Map for Election. As per unofficial result, 4 City Corporation and 8 of 9 Municipalities Mayoral Posts were swept by the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) backed candidates.
After January 11, 2007, the present interim government came in to state power with the backing of military in a chaotic political scenario and this government was widely supported by the civil society, intellectuals, professionals and welcomed by the politicians and people as well.
Immediate after taking over of the state power, the interim government started reforms in constitutional bodies i.e. the Election Commission (EC), Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and administration. Subsequent to the reforms, EC declared a road map for holding credible elections those would be acceptable to all.
ACC started a strong drive against corruption under which many heavy weights of politics and business came under the legal process including two former Prime Ministers. But people and politicians of Bangladesh always make aware the government and the authorities that the principal job of this government is to hold a national election that must be credible and acceptable to all.
As of the road map, at first EC started preparing a voter list and went for phase by phase local government elections on the basis of the completion of voter list of the particular locality. The August 4 election was the first set of local government elections which was treated as an acid test for EC. In this set of poll, 4 City Corporation and 9 Municipalities were included. As of unofficial result, all four City Corporations Mayoral posts and eight municipality heads are swept by candidates supported by the party Awami League (AL), led by former Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina. In three City Corporation, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidates stood second in the run.
Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran, the former Sylhet City mayor now in prison on corruption charges, won the mayoral post by defeating BNP candidate AFM Kamal. Awami League leader Talukder Abdul Khaleque clinched the mayoral race for Khulna City Corporation, winning a victory over BNP-backed Moniruzzaman Moni. Khairuzzaman Liton, backed by the AL-led 14-party alliance, finished the mayoral race in the poll with a victory against Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, a Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal leader backed by BNP. Shawkat Hossain Hiron, the AL backed candidate in Barisal City emerged as Mayor by a thin difference from S Sharfuddin Ahmed Santu of Progressive Democratic Party.
Immediate after the first set of election, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) said to the press that under a certain degree of state of emergency all elections including the parliament could be hold in an acceptable manner if cooperation comes from all corners. Apparently it is the first reaction from EC as they come up with a positive result in the acid test of acceptability. But the challenges are those the difficulties the election officials faced for the mistakes in voter lists should be removed in an acceptable way. On the other hand BNP, as a looser in first set election, should be managed to join in the next set of elections of Local Government, in dialogue and finally in the parliament election.
Analysts are assuming that after this result BNP could be go for a NO ELECTION UNDER EMERGENCY program which is very good in sound and need almost no level of power for any agitation of movement. On the other hand, AL leadership could not be enthusiastic for boycotting any election in future as the first result is in favour of them. But for future political gain, AL would not be in a position that they could avoid the demand of total withdrawal of emergency before the parliament poll. This political situation could make difficulty for the election process, the analysts added.
So, the acceptance of the result of the first set of election is not the end, rather it is the beginning of new pattern of problems, Analysts stated further.
Political Analysts also observed that in Upazila Parishad (sub-district council) election, which may hold before the parliament, grassroots level, the AL leaders will be in a mood to participate, though Central Leaders are demanding parliament first. However BNP may not be interested in the Upazila election as well.
In consideration of this state of affairs, the government, EC and politicians should work together carefully, and do everything with an compliant mentality. Because August 4 election is the representative reflection of people’s opinion, every one should honour it.
The author is a Dhaka, Bangladesh, based independent journalist writes for various newspapers and websites across the world. He can be reached at mabbas1961@yahoo.com
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