WHEN a number of opposition candidates were attacked and barred allegedly by the miscreants in many constituencies, some Returning Officers allegedly didn’t mention the incidents of violence in their situational reports sent to the Election Commission. The ROs’ confidential reports didn’t state the real environment in the area and also the incidents of police harassment. Fact is that, they have sent incomplete messages to the EC about the real situation in the electoral field.
We think, such hiding attitude by the ROs was a wrong approach to the authorities concerned in the digital era. Some newspapers and electronic media have reported about attacks on motorcades, rallies, camps and even houses of many contestants. The social media also focused many such incidents.
Quoting confidential report sent by RO of Chattogram, newspapers reported that the situation on last Wednesday was claimed as “calm” in his area. But what we see that, an attack on the day on Jatiya Oikyafront rally from Hathazari (Chattogram-5) injured seven people, vandalize five vehicles and at one stage BGB rescued candidate Major Ibrahim. Earlier on December 15, at least 10 were attacked at Keochiya Union of Satkania Upazila (Chattogram-14). The report sent by RO for that day skipped the incident in the same fashion, and claimed the situation was “peaceful and stable”.
Violence became a regular phenomenon since December 10 but the official reports mentioned the situation in many violence-prone constituencies to be “calm and normal”. Concealing true picture in the official report might create a false impression about real situation before the administration. And if the situation becomes worse, it would be difficult for the law enforcers to handle it quickly.
Today, country’s about 104.2 million voters are expected to exercise their franchise in 299 of the 300 constituencies to elect their favourite candidates. Voting has been postponed in Gaibandha-3 due to the death of the Jatiya Oikyafront candidate. We must say, a true picture of the field sent by the ROs would help the civil and military administrations along with the EC to tackle any unwanted situation on the voting day and even after the polls.
