Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
The nation goes to polls today (Sunday) amid tight security measures and tensions in two major political camps–ruling Awami League and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is seeking its re-election for the third consecutive term in the election while its rival BNP, which boycotted the last general election in 2014, is looking to unset the incumbent government through ‘ballot revolution.’
About 10.42 crore registered voters will choose their 300 representatives from a total of 1,861 candidates in National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad). Of them, 128 are independent candidates.
A party can only form the government if it wins 151 seats out of total 300 seats.
Voting will take place in 299 constituencies on Sunday out of 300 across the country as polling has been postponed in Gaibandha-3 constituency due to the death of a candidate.
Among the 299 constituencies, Electronic voting machines (EVM) to be used in six constituencies. These are Dhaka-6, Dhaka-13, Chattogram-9, Rangpur-3, Khulna-2 and Satkhira 2.
Voting for the 11th Parliamentary Elections will start at 8 AM at more than 40,000 polling stations. The counting of votes will be done on the spot soon after the conclusion of the polling process at 4 PM and results will be announced within 24 hours. Thirty-nine registered political parties have fielded their candidates for the election.
For a smooth polling process, the Election Commission has deployed adequate number of staff at polling stations across the country.
Nearly 7,00,000 security personnel, including members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, Ansar-VDP, Police and RAB, have been deployed for guarding polling stations and maintain law and order on the polling day.
The army has also been deployed across the country to act as a striking force during the election.
Security also heightened in Dhaka with deployment of additional police forces.
About 1361 executive magistrates and 640 judicial magistrates have been deployed by the Election Commission to ensure all the parties properly adhered to the electoral code of conduct.
The Commission has approved a total of 25,920 election observers from 81 different organizations and 188 foreign observers for the polls. So far, 56 foreign journalists have been registered to cover the general polls.
In a press briefing on Saturday, the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda urged the voters to fulfil their national duty of casting the ballot.
He also gave instruction to the law enforcement agencies to maintain the law and order situation with an iron hand if there is any incident of violence occurred during the polling day.
The Election Commission has also imposed restrictions on public transport and cars on polling day in an effort to maintain security for a smooth election.
Sunday has been declared public holiday in order to facilitate the voters to cast their votes.
The voting is being seen a “Litmus Test” for the opposition BNP since it is contesting the polls forming a new coalition– ‘Jatiya Oikyafront’–led by prominent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain.
The coalition’s performance would be crucial this time to defend the ruling party’s all out effort to seal a landslide victory in the 11th Parliamentary Elections, according to political observers.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina say, that she is very confident that her party will win a third consecutive term in office in the December 30 election.
“We know we are coming back. Because people want the Awami League to remain in power,” she said during her interview with Indian Bangla-language daily newspaper Anandabazar.
Her party, which is also contesting in the polls under a coalition named ‘Grand Alliance,’ has been accused of organising the mass arrest and intimidation of opposition candidates, leaders and supporters across the country using state machinery.
An opinion poll indicated Awami League led Grand Alliance is going to make a considerable victory in the December 30 elections.
On the other hand, BNP led opposition alliance demanded resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner on the charge of favouring the ruling party and his failure to ensure level paying field for the opposition parties.
BNP say more than 11,500 of their followers have been arrested and thousand of activists, including candidates were injured in attacks by ruling party followers since the polls schedule was announced on November 8. The party has no contenders in 17 of the 300 seats as per Court Order.
Individual observers say such a situation send the ruling Awami League in big relieve while creating much discomfort for BNP whose leader Begum Khaleda Zia in jail after conviction in two graft cases.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, however, expressed the optimism that his party will secure a landslide victory in the election if people are allowed to vote freely.
The official campaign ended on Friday after seven weeks of street clashes and allegation of an official crackdown on the opposition candidates, leaders and supporters across the country.
Police said at least six people — four from the BNP and two from the Awami League — have been killed and thousands injured since the campaign started on November 8.
The opposition said that 14 of its candidates had been arrested and 1,500 injured in attacks this month by ruling party workers.
Human Rights Watch has accused the ruling party and its supporters of creating an “atmosphere of fear” for opposition activists.
The violence also raised international concern, with Human Rights Watch urging the United Nations, European Union, the United States, India, China, and others to press the Bangladesh Government to create conditions conducive to a free and fair vote and to prevent campaign of violence.
