Editorial Desk :
Arrest of workers of opposition mayoral candidates and violation of Election Code of Conduct continues by ruling party activists in the three cities in violation of the Election Commission (EC) own directive to police and local administration not to arrest without court warrant. Not only that the Election Commission has found itself to be completely helpless in maintaining the sanctity of the elections. But the Chief Election Commissioner will not admit his powerless position for saving his job.
The government leaders are joining the election campaign of the Awami League mayoral candidates in all three cities. An official of the Prime Minister office, Khulna Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque and State Minister Omar Faruk Chowdhury joined Awami League’s Rajshahi mayor candidate’s election campaigning on Wednesday.
It appears that the EC was unable to stop Ministers, MPs and other senior government officials joining the ruling party’s mayoral candidate’s election campaign; which was earlier not allowed under the Code of Conduct. The EC is now ignoring its own directives for the convenience of the party in power.
The High Court yesterday issued a new directive making it clear again that nobody should be arrested causing hitch to Mayoral election in Barishal.
The HC Bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal passed
the order following a writ filed by BNP mayoral candidate of Barishal city polls Mujibur Rahman Sarwar. He complained in his writ that law enforcers are conducting indiscriminate arrest on his supporters, activists and campaigners in violation of the previous Supreme Court guideline. Earlier the High Court passed a similar order on prayer of Sylhet City Mayoral candidate Ariful Haque Chowdhury.
It appears the EC is not taking the allegations seriously. We don’t know why the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda is so indifferent to act on complaints. The CEC promised action on complaints of rigging in Khulna and Gazipur election and nothing then happened. His indifference may only make the three city election more scandalous.
The EC is playing the role of a spectator as far as it goes to arrange a free and fair election acceptable to all.
We understand the helplessness of the Election Commission because most of the election officials are government servants directly under the control of the Prime Minister. What is expected is the integrity of the Chief Election Commissioner and be honest about his inability to ensure free elections.
Arrest of workers of opposition mayoral candidates and violation of Election Code of Conduct continues by ruling party activists in the three cities in violation of the Election Commission (EC) own directive to police and local administration not to arrest without court warrant. Not only that the Election Commission has found itself to be completely helpless in maintaining the sanctity of the elections. But the Chief Election Commissioner will not admit his powerless position for saving his job.
The government leaders are joining the election campaign of the Awami League mayoral candidates in all three cities. An official of the Prime Minister office, Khulna Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque and State Minister Omar Faruk Chowdhury joined Awami League’s Rajshahi mayor candidate’s election campaigning on Wednesday.
It appears that the EC was unable to stop Ministers, MPs and other senior government officials joining the ruling party’s mayoral candidate’s election campaign; which was earlier not allowed under the Code of Conduct. The EC is now ignoring its own directives for the convenience of the party in power.
The High Court yesterday issued a new directive making it clear again that nobody should be arrested causing hitch to Mayoral election in Barishal.
The HC Bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal passed
the order following a writ filed by BNP mayoral candidate of Barishal city polls Mujibur Rahman Sarwar. He complained in his writ that law enforcers are conducting indiscriminate arrest on his supporters, activists and campaigners in violation of the previous Supreme Court guideline. Earlier the High Court passed a similar order on prayer of Sylhet City Mayoral candidate Ariful Haque Chowdhury.
It appears the EC is not taking the allegations seriously. We don’t know why the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda is so indifferent to act on complaints. The CEC promised action on complaints of rigging in Khulna and Gazipur election and nothing then happened. His indifference may only make the three city election more scandalous.
The EC is playing the role of a spectator as far as it goes to arrange a free and fair election acceptable to all.
We understand the helplessness of the Election Commission because most of the election officials are government servants directly under the control of the Prime Minister. What is expected is the integrity of the Chief Election Commissioner and be honest about his inability to ensure free elections.
