Staff Reporter :
Sushasoner Joynno Nagarik [Sujan] on Tuesday said that the entire electoral system had been ruined by introducing District Council (DC) election.
“The District Council will not be effective in the way the election was held. We, however, like to take it positively. But it needs a powerful Election Commission to achieve confidence of the people,” Secretary of Sujan Dr Badiul Alam Mazundar said.
He was addressing a press conference titled: ‘District council Election scenario and analyzing information of newly-elected chairmen’, held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the city’s Segun Bagicha. The key-note paper was placed by central coordinator of Sujan Dilip Kumar Sarkar.
“The electoral members of the local government’s organ [District Council] are not acceptable by any means, as these electoral members have been elected in different tiers of the Local Administration getting votes from general voters. They are not elected to further elect representatives of another administrative body,” Dilip Kumar Sarkar said.
“We earlier had welcomed the maiden District Council election, although its members are supposed to be elected by the electoral members instead of direct voting by the general people. But we were disheartened seeing various incidents since election schedule announcement to voting day,” he said in the key-note paper.
As per the existing law, the district council election is to be held in a non-political manner. But the ruling Awami League published names of its party nominees for the polls. On the other hand, the major opposition political parties did not participate in the election, and for that reason, there was no competition as well enthusiasm.
Rather, the electoral fight took place between the Awami League nominated and rebel candidates of the same party. The party high ups apparently did not create any pressure on the rebels for withdrawal. In 21 District Councils, the ‘chairmen’ candidates have been elected without any voting. Not only that, the incidents of electoral code violation were numerous.
Defying instruction of Speaker, a number of lawmakers went to their constituencies to work for their candidates. Several lawmakers also campaigned giving lucrative offers to people, such as TR, food for work programme and money. But no legal action was taken against them till the date. The buying of votes in exchange of money or gift was very common across the country.
The Sujan also disclosed some findings over district council polls at the press conference. Of the elected chairmen, 6.77 % could not cross SSC level. About 13.55% chairmen passed HSC and 57.62% obtained graduation degree.
Besides, out of total elected chairmen, three are farmers, 38 businessmen, 5 job-holders, 4 lawyers and five in other professions. Criminal cases, including murder, were filed earlier against fifteen chairmen.
Assets of two chairmen are more than Tk five crore and seven get wealth of Tk 1-5 crore, according to Sujan.
