The preliminary statement made by the Election Working Group on April 29, a day after the three city polls, included some ambiguous information which has created confusion in some quarters, and was misunderstood or misreported by some media outlets.
For instance, the EWG statement says that irregularities took place in 90% centres in Chittagong. But it did not clarify that only a single incident occurred in 85% centres, and multiple incidents in only 5%.
In some cases a single incident is enough to spoil the election environment at a polling centre. But it depends on the type and extent of the occurrence. EWG did not give details on those single incidents, thus many media reported that voting at 90% of the voting centres was unacceptable.
99% figure not official
In addition, many local and international media who used the EWG data have spread confusion regarding the election environment. Some of them published news items saying “99% irregularities in city polls” while reporting on EWG press conference. But its statement has no such data.
“The matter of 99% irregularities during polls was not part of our statement. One of our colleagues made the comment mistakenly, and we apologised for this during the press conference,” explains Dr Md Abdul Alim, director of EWG.
Asked whether they had tried to resolve the matter following news reports, Dr Alim said: “No, we did not give any statement, as an EGW member made the remark mistakenly and we immediately clarified that it was not part of our statement. If anyone makes a mistake, it is his/her responsibility.”
Prof Maruful Islam of Dhaka University’s development studies department terms such mistake an irresponsible act. “It is methodically wrong to place a research-based statement in a hurried manner. Such an act gives an unclear and unrealistic picture regarding transparency and management during an election. It is harmful for the political culture [of the country].”
EWG – a platform of 28 civil society organisations – was formed in 2006 with an aim to ensure transparency and accountability in election process and strengthening democratic process. It observes national and local-level polls across the country.
Ambiguous sections
According to Dr Alim, EWG had observed election at 181 centres of Dhaka North, 258 in Dhaka South, and 180 in Chittagong City Corporation.
EWG reported that the number of incidents of intimidation in Dhaka North was 33, ballot stuffing 55, violence 66, announcements of closing down polling centres 21, forcing agents out of the centres 28, and arrest inside centres two.
Even though EWG reported the number of incidents, the preliminary statement did not mention how many centres faced such incidents. Many media outlets thus confused the number of incidents with the number of effected polling centres.
Dr Alim has subsequently clarified that irregularities took place at 88 centres of Dhaka North, 53 of Dhaka South, and 163 of Chittagong City Corporation. This means EWG found irregularities in approximately 49% centres out of the 619 observed.
More detailed information now available clarifies the preliminary statement also in the case of extent of irregularities.
For instance, EWG covered 163 out of 180 polling centres in Chittagong.
In Chittagong, the number of centres where a single incident of irregularities took place was 139 (85% centres).
EWG did not mention the extent of the single incidents and their impact on the election environment.
From the preliminary and the detailed reports, it can be assumed that EWG reported a single centre several times with regard to the types of irregularities including violence, intimidation and cancellation of votes. Thus the total number of effected voting centres across the three constituencies was less than 50%.
All this clarifying information would be added to the full report, Dr Alim said, adding that it might take one more month to complete the report.
Asked how many incidents of irregularities can lead to categorisation of an election as not fair, he responded:
“The first precondition of a fair election is participation of all political parties. The city elections had such participation. BNP withdrew from the polls at the very last moment. They participated though it is not a political election.
“Having a good number of candidates [so that voters have choices] is the second condition of a fair election, and it was met during the elections.
“Finally, the most important thing is massive presence of voters at the polling centres. But this did not happen; they were obstructed. Voter turnout at the centres I and our teams visited was low until noon.”
The inconsistencies in the preliminary EWG report do not lead to the conclusion that the elections were free and fair. However, it is important to understand precisely what the preliminary report does and does not say, and that there be no confusion.
DU teacher Prof Maruful said: “There is no scope of hurrying to publish reports or statements on an election. It should be prepared taking enough time and in a well-organised manner.”
