Rising violence creates doubt about fairness

With the rise of violence ahead of tomorrow's municipality election, civil society organisation SHUJAN yesterday expressed doubts about whether the vote would be free, fair and transparent.

"Our Election Commission, which has huge power to take action against the people involved in violence, remains inactive. Their silence has had an impact on the rise of violence and created fear about a fair election," reads a statement of the Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN).

At a press conference at the capital's Mukti Bhaban, it said at least 50 incidents of violence occurred between December 7 and 26 while at least three persons were allegedly killed and 271 were injured in the incidents.

The statement said violence used to occur in the Election Day centring on the victory or defeat of contestants in the past but this time violence started in advance.

Apart of the constitution, the Supreme Court has also given immense power to the EC; the commission can cancel any election if it deems it necessary, the statement added.

"But violence is increasing with the approach of the Election Day. In the last two days (December 26 and 27), at least 11 incidents of violence occurred. But we did not hear that the Election Commission took any strict action against anybody," it said.

Referring to the ruling party men's uncontested election to six mayoral and 134 councillor posts in Feni and other areas by "barring the rivals", SHUJAN said such incidents had raised questions and revealed the weakness of the Election Commission.

The commission has failed to stop violence and violation of the electoral code of conduct, it said.

"There are fears among people due to several incidents of violence and violation of the code of conduct before the voting day. We hope the EC would take proper and stern action to dispel the fears," said Badiul Alam Majumder, SHUJAN's general secretary, reading the statement.

He hoped for the government and political parties' help in ensuring a fair and peaceful election.

Replying to a query about the deployment of army, he said such deployment would not work until the EC could apply its power and take effective measures to hold a fair election.

Former caretaker government adviser and SHUJAN President M Hafizuddin Khan and columnist Syed Abul Moksud also spoke.