Discussants at a seminar on Saturday urged the country’s civil society to impress upon the government and the Election Commission to hold the next 11th parliamentary elections in such a manner that every voter can truly reflect their aspirations.
They said this while addressing the seminar titled “Participatory Election and Democracy in Bangladesh organized by The Dhaka Forum at the National Press Club in the city.
“The civil society encouragement to impress upon the ruling party and the Election Commission that the only way to save the country from an impending political tsunami would be not to derail the next general election and hold it in a manner that every Bangladeshi voters hope would truly reflect their aspirations,” said former Ambassador M. Serajul Islam, who presented the keynote paper at the seminar.
The seminar was chaired by former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.
Serajul Islam said with the 11th Parliamentary election coming nearer, there are widespread apprehensions in the public mind whether they would be able to vote freely and regain their inalienable right to vote that was taken away from them through the January 2014 elections.
He also warned that another non-participatory election or one where the ruling party would come to power without the people being able to exercise their right to vote would speed up the slide to fascism and further strangle
democracy while encouraging extremism and violent groups that are too dangerous to contemplate.
Barrister Mainul Hosein, a former Adviser to the Caretaker Government, said free election is the people’s right to choose their government freely. It is wrong to think that the general election is only a matter between Awami League and BNP. The people’s election has to be freed from captivity so that the people can vote freely.
We have hopes only if the patriotic ones everywhere come together and raise voice together they can save the nation from the politics of greed and violence. If not election, then also the government needs some other support base to remain in power. Their support has come from some among us and we expect them to realise what is right for the country, he said.
Like in other countries, Mainul Hosein said we must have we had many achievements in British as well as in Pakistan days. In a free country the greatest failure is not have free the parliamentary election under a caretaker government. We have to agree on the form of the caretaker government for a free and fair election.
He said it is misleading to talk about achievements, because election for electing the people’s government freely.
Barrister Hosein said we want free election to establish constitutional system of accountability and restoration of democracy.
“The main impediment to hold neutral election in Bangladesh is India. The second impediment is lack of education and mismanagement. Now there is no morality in our country,” said Dr. Jafarullah Chowdhury, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra.
M. Hafizuddin Khan, the Chairman of TIB Trusty Board, said the EC has failed to ensure the level playing field. The EC has not yet framed any proper roadmap for upcoming election.
He also raised the Rohingya issue as it would be great problem for the nation.
BNP standing committee member and former Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, the main lacking of our democracy is the weak institution. There is no strong institution in Bangladesh. The government has been destroying the institution. He also criticized the EC.
Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury has said, election is not only a franchise. It is a culture also. There is no value of election in Bangladesh. He also said about the weakness of institutionalization.
Dr. Dilara Chowdhury, a political scientist, said, the weak civil society is the major problem of our democracy. The youths are leaving the country because they find no hope in the country. It’s not a good sign.
Ali Imam Majumdar, Iftekharuzzaman and Sohel Ahmed Chowdhury, among others, were present.
