Eminent citizens of the country yesterday expressed concerns over ensuring free and a fair polls with the number of uncontested seats in the 10th parliamentary poll.
“Counting from East Pakistan Provincial Assembly Elections, it would be the highest number of uncontested seats in history. More than 100 uncontested seats in the coming elections will not qualify a free and fair election,” lawyer Shahdeen Malik told the Dhaka Tribune.
Former Election Commissioner M Shakhawat Hossain said the election had already become questionable and the results would be similarly in question as many of the candidates had been elected uncontested.
“By this time we could have organised an inclusive election if we started the negotiation before,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
Syed Abul Maksud said the politicians had become engaged in a “farce” in the name of democracy, which was unexpected.