Ballot stuffing, intimidation of voters, capture of polling stations and clashes have undermined the credibility of the April 28 city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.
They said such acts had also damaged the transparency of polls.
The discussion held at WVA auditorium in the capital’s Dhanmondi focused on the city corporation polls and the sexual assault of women on Dhaka University campus during Pohela Boishakh celebrations.
“A strong organisational power is needed for holding acceptable elections in the country. The BNP failed in city polls for not having polling agents and also for weak enforcement of law among several other reasons,” said advocate Monjil Morshed.
“Elections would not have been rigged if held with the spirit of independence. Besides, there are many people who hold a non-partisan view and they could have voted for the candidates who they think deserve their votes if the government could arrange a free and fair election.”
He said electoral fraud during elections and the sexual assault of women during Pohela Boishakh festivities could have been avoided had there been strong enforcement of law as well as good governance.
But Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said at the programme that the city polls were fair.
He said the media had its own agenda and exaggerated what had happened during voting to have the agenda served.
“Boycotting the city elections was BNP leader Moudud Ahmed’s predetermined act.”
The minister also said there would be a time in the future when Jamaat-e-Islami would no longer exist as a political party.
Speakers who talked about the incidents of sexual assault during the Bangla new year celebrations on April 14 said women in the country are still not safe even though there are several laws to deal with such unpleasant cases.
Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha Executive Director, Rokeya Kabir, urged the younger generation to come forward to support women in the society.
“The elite are always concerned about the country’s demands and their own well-being. They talk about democracy and good governance but those are confined to the areas they operate. They do not reach out to the grass roots of the country to learn what these people want from the state,” she added.