Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
The experience of the Cumilla City Corporation (CuCC) election raises two serious questions relating to the capability and competence of the EC and the appropriateness of using EVMs in future elections. When the results of 101 centres were declared, Monirul Haque had 48,492 votes compared to 47,863 votes for Arfanul Haque – a difference of 629 votes. At that point, the Returning Officer stopped the declaration of the results of the mayoral contest because he did not have, by his own admission, the results of the remaining centres (ProthomAlo, June 16, 2022). Surprisingly, the results of those four centres came in about four hours after closing of the polling, although they should have been available to the Presiding Officers with the mere pressing of a few buttons.
The irrugalarities and adverse situation in Muradnagar UP Election scenario in brief was sent to their official number of DC and SP even it was communicated to EC in the early hour of Election Day for necessary action. But no respons wascoming and no action was taken. First attachment of the message and report stated as – “Election conduct is being violated by the influence of local MP. OC Muradnagar is helping him, creating anarchy and terrorism. Despite maintaining law and order, he is instigating the police forces to work in favour of a particular candidate”. Second attachment of the message and report stated as-“The external scenerio is ok. Internally it is manipulated by presiding officer and his team. There is a blueprint by local MP assisted by local administration. Single chairman candidate is only demonstrated inside in pooling. Other chairman candidates are not allowed inside the polling booths. Monopoly business is on violating the rules and election code of conduct”. Third attachment of the message and report stated as -“Election is not being followed as per the instructions of EC. Election is not fair and it is far. It is just an eye-wash type election and most nakedly a designed game. Things to be pondered and pls.ensure free fair election”. Fourth attachment of the message and report stated as-“As eyes of majority including media are on bigger election like Cumilla city corporation election, tricky plays have been played in Muradnagar. This is not a good sign for nation. This is for attention of EC.”
Now let’s come to the 6th step of Muradnagar UP election. The role of EC can also be clearly seen from the picture of Muradnagar UP election. The man who was the boat candidate in Muradnagar UP election, he never did Awami League. However, as a land developer, he owns crores of taka. The local MP has nominated a millionaire who is not supposed to get more than 100 votes in his own right. There he won by more than 8,000 votes, which is more than any other UP election in the past. The image of the Awami League has been tarnished in the same way that the image of the MP has been tarnished in the riots carried out by the Awami League workers in different places under the direction of the local MP. He also questioned the administration. It may be mentioned that in the Muradnagar UP election, in front of the mobile court executive magistrate in Alirchar Men and Women Center, Awami League Comilla North leader Ruhul Amin harassed Mohammad Ibrahim, the elder brother of Jaynal Abedin, one chariman candidate with horse symbol. Besides, Nazmul Hasan, the Executive Magistrate in charge of the Mobile Team, directed to expel the agents of all the Chairman candidates except the Boat candidate’s agent from the center.
EC’s role in Cumilla City Corporation elections and Muradnagar UP elections in 6th phase has been questioned — the bigger question is whether the EC has found any inconsistency in the election expenses of the candidates concerned. It is learned that the elected candidate of Awami League in Muradnagar UP election is a private college teacher. Even he is not an ordinary worker supported by Awami League. He was nominated only because of his financial influence, which is a reflection of personal interest. Apart from teaching in a private college, he has become the owner of crores of rupees as a land developer. Has the Election Commission, through the Revenue Department or any other body, examined how much money he owns and how much he pays annual income tax? On the other hand, the chairman candidate with the symbol of horse is the owner of brick fields but he is not very conscious about protecting the environment. Who will spend how much money in the election must be specified in the Electoral Code of Conduct. In this case, the Election Commission may investigate the violation of the limit of election expenses of the chairman candidates in Muradnagar UP election.
There were no media personnel allowed into booth. The media was just in name. It seems that the image of the government or the EC is tarnished by such naked intervention even in small matters. I appeal to the concerned authorities to take necessary action on irrugalaraties and violation of elction code of conduct.
The new EC is the duplication of previous EC. They are the same to old courses. EC’s role has become controversy as if they failed to manage the politicians and administrative stakeholders involving in the duty and performance perspect.The way Muradnagar UP election was conducted was a matter of shame to nation. It was very openly nasty, dirty and naked sign of violation of EC’s role and conduct. The administrative team was partisan, biased and involved in vote rigging function standing nearer the EVMs. It carries a bad message for upcoming national election.
(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP).
