On December 14, a group of 42 prominent citizens urged President Md Abdul Hamid to investigate the allegations of graft and other misdeeds committed by the incumbent Election Commission (EC) led by KM Nurul Huda through constituting a Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).The demand is serious even though corruption in the last election was regarded as robbery. The police were paid and even opposition members were also paid handsomely. After such bogus election what happened to arouse their conscience so late?
They sent a letter to the President, detailing the alleged gross irregularities committed by the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other members and high officials of the Commission in line with the Article 96 of the Constitution. Article 96 provides for formation of the SJC, comprising the Chief Justice and two other Senior-most Judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, to probe allegations against Supreme Court judges, the Election Commission and other constitutional bodies, and recommend removal of individuals involved in the allegations.
Meanwhile, the noted citizens at a recent press briefing also affirmed that the current EC has broken the record of corruption, irregularities and misconduct compared to that of previous ECs. Even they went on to claim that through its conduct, the Commission has betrayed with the blood of Father of the Nation and freedom fighters and let down democracy. The Commission chair and members have been asked to voluntarily refrain from conducting their activities pending the investigation.
But the wise men and women who took the initiative for punishing the Election Commission remained wise not to support undoing the election results that have put the present government in power. The same Election Commission through their misdeeds and corrupt practices ensure election victory for the present government. The allegations against the Election Commission were nothing new. Yet it was a brave move to keep future Election Commissions clean and fair.
It was alleged that gross misconduct and irregularities were committed by the EC in holding the 11th parliamentary elections, and also elections to Dhaka North and South city corporations, and Khulna, Gazipur, Sylhet, Barishal and Rajshahi city corporations. It has failed to provide any explanation about the inconsistencies in vote counts, including 100 percent casting of vote in as many as 213 centres during the 2018 parliamentary election. The data released by it in 590 centres also showed that all votes were cast in favour of a single candidate.
The spectrum of the legion that signed the petition adequately reflects their diversity of ideological moorings and political orientations. Many of them are self- declared Awami League sympathisers, freedom fighters, retired senior civil servants and professionals with impeccable credentials, eminent jurists, rights workers, corruption crusaders and development practitioners.
The Supreme Judicial Council can judge misconduct unfit for holding the official positions. But corruption allegations can only be investigated by Anti-Corruption Commission for the court proceedings. It will be inordinately a lengthy affair to prove corruption cases. So the government is saved from worrying about what would be the consequence on the election if the corruption cases are proved. There will be enough time for them to survive the next election corruption.
The question that baffled many is: When so many eminent persons are so sure of massive corruption in the Election Commission why they did not go a little further for the sake honest courage to insist on rejection of the election?
The Election Commission seemed undisturbed to hold a press conference to deny boldly all the allegations against the Commission. Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and other election commissioners have dismissed as baseless the allegations of misconduct and financial irregularities brought against the present Election Commission. The CEC said that Tk 20 million had not been allocated for training in the action plan for the 11th parliamentary election and the upazila polls. So, he said, the allegations of misappropriation were baseless and motivated.
Some of the persons are undoubtedly respectable people of integrity and we respect them. But we have this to say that because of the inconsistency and caution our educated people had shown in playing any constructive role in public life as our people’s sacrifices in blood and tears went in van. The massive sacrifices our people had to endure for Pakistan were betrayed by the cooperation of the educated ones for the benefit of the few.
That time our people suffered genocide in the hands of Pakistan army, specifically for democracy and democratic rights. Our leaders were away. But after liberation of Bangladesh again with cooperation of sections of educated people we lost in no time all our rights, including the right to vote.
We are going from bad to worse because our educated ones feel not so commitment to democracy or the people’s rights. These are for political leaders and common people to bother. Our public servants are not ours for protecting our rights. The police are called everywhere the people’s police. But abusing their power against the people is no problem.
Our earnest plea to the educated people of the country is: Please do not just be job holders but see to it that we live with dignity of free country we, the people have achieved.
