According to commentators and former election officials, the political parties as well as the Election Commission all achieved some measure of their objectives in the recently concluded municipal polls.
The ruling Awami League (AL) needed to show that a democratic polity indeed prevails in Bangladesh. The BNP needed to exploit a political space that had been closed up. Finally, the Election Commission (EC) needed to improve its tarnished image.
By these measures, all three could look at the municipal polls as a success.
Afsan Chowdhury said AL wanted to put up a show of a good election and they did it: “There was a huge political crisis in Bangladesh and AL found no other option to restore the image except for holding the polls. AL was successful on that front.”
On the other hand, according to Afsan: “BNP said they would be in the election till the end and they were, so it is a win for BNP too.”
In his opinion, the EC wanted to earn the people’s trust and it did so too. “Basically it is the intention of the government, how they want to see the commission and what sort of election they want.”
AL, BNP and EC – each had separate objectives and they achieved them. This is very rare in Bangladesh politics. If this election was national elections then the scenario might have been different as the two arch-rivals are very much into confrontational politics, Afsan observed.
He also said: “Of course, this election has a long-term political positive impact. AL knows that political space is a must as a political void is not sustainable. BNP got some space and now it is the turn of BNP how they will use that space.”
Noted political commentator Mizanur Rahman Shelley said that the municipal polls looked “good” but, alluding to the strong allegations of rigging made by opposition parties, both inside parliament and outside, questioned: “What is the meaning of public opinion if the people are not allowed to express their views peacefully?” and warned that if not given the opportunity to let out their feelings “people will lose their confidence.”
Brigadier General (retd) Shakhawat Hossain, former election commissioner, said he thought the EC was sincere in trying to hold fair elections at the very end, but we did not see the political parties play their appropriate roles as expected.
He also noted that the law enforcers had failed to perform in some places too.
He said as the local government election is partisan, if one party boycotts the election, the candidates are left with no recourse to challenge the polls. “But as the BNP candidates remained till the end, they could challenge legally.”
The Election Commission said 72% was cast in the municipality polls. In the 2011 municipal election, the voter turnout was some 80%.
Just after a day of the municipal election, rejecting the municipal polls result, the BNP-led 20-party alliance yesterday demanded resignation of the government and the EC.
On the other hand, the AL asked the BNP to accept the polls result to respect the people’s verdict.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also thanked the BNP for participating in the elections and not engaging in violence.
