Though the Election Commission (EC) began 2016 amid criticisms for the violence-marred Union Parishad elections, it ended the year with a bit of relief through holding a peaceful and fair election to Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC). Besides, the commission conducted Zila Parishad election and two by-polls to Mymensingh-1 and 3 constituencies, started distribution of smart national identity cards, and made residents of former enclaves in four northern districts voters and arranged UP election there.
The Chief Election Commissioner and four other election commissioners had to seek unconditional apology at the High Court for suggesting complainers to go to court instead of disposing of their complaints over the UP election irregularities as per the court’s directives. As the EC failed to check violence and irregularities in the countrywide six-phase UP elections started from March 22 last, it faced harsh criticisms from different quarters. The election, held along the political party line for the firth time in the country, was most violent in the UP election history as some 100 people were killed in the 2016 UP election. However, Shujan, a non-government organisation, said just 10 people were killed in 2011 UP election, while the death toll was 23 in 2003 and 31 in 1997 UP election. The EC arranged election to over 4,100 out of the country’s 4,546 UPs, but the chairman posts in some 220 UPs went uncontested finding single candidates against each post. Besides, a good number of member posts, particularly in Feni and Bagerhat, went uncontested as many candidates either did not submit nomination papers or withdrew the candidature in the face of intimidation. AL-backed chairman candidates were elected in 65 percent UPs, while its independent contenders but known as AL rebels in 22 percent UPs and BNP chairman contestants in nine percent UPs.
The commission received huge complaints over UP polls irregularities and intimidation, which mostly went unheeded. At the end of 2016, the EC arranged the NCC polls in a fair manner amid peaceful atmosphere. The peaceful polls were widely praised by different quarters.
The commission conducted the maiden election to Zila Parishads in 61 districts except three Chittagong Hill Tracks districts on December 28. Like the UP election, 21 AL chairman candidates were elected unopposed here. BNP and Jatiya Party boycotted the election held in non-partisan manner unlike other local bodies. Elected representatives of UPs, municipalities, Upazila Parishads and city corporations elected a 21-member body for each Zila Parishad. The EC, a constitutional body, also arranged two by-polls to Mymensingh 1 and 3 constituencies in July and AL candidates Jewel Areng and Sharif Ahmed elected MP in the two parliamentary seats respectively. But BNP boycotted the by-election unlike local body elections. The commission started distribution of smart National Identity Cards among some 90 million people in October last. The distribution is scheduled to be completed in June, 2017. Election commissioner Md Zabed Ali said the commission tried its best to arrange every election neutrally in a peaceful manner in 2016 like the previous years. “We don’t have lack of sincerity to take measures to arrange elections in fair and peaceful manner in 2016 like we did in the previous years of our tenure,” he told UNB.
“But not we, rather candidates, miscreants and others were behind what happened in the polls in some places,” he said pointing at irregularities and violence in the UP election. Zabed said they treated all elections equally and considered important during their tenure started from February 2012. “We had also limitations like any other organisation and man. But we tried to give our level best.” Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Wednesday last claimed that all the elections held during their five-year tenure were by and large fair and peaceful, saying some minor irregularities overshadowed the scenario. The CEC stressed the need for continuation of democratic practices to improve the country’s election culture.
