Several leaders of the ruling Awami League have expressed concerns that the recent violence that erupted across the country centring the recent upazila polls had marred the ruling party’s credibility in holding a free, fair and transparent election under a political government.
They said the first phase of the upazila polls held on February 19 was held in a free and fair manner. However, violence escalated in the subsequent phases.
“First phase of the upazila polls was held in a free and fair manner, but then violence set in, which is very alarming for the government,” an Awami League leader told the Dhaka Tribune.
During previous term of the ruling Awami League, around 5,650 elections, including by-election and city corporation elections, were held in a peaceful manner. Many opposition party candidates won in constituencies considered to be strongholds of the ruling party. At the same time, election observers, both local and international, had not raised any questions regarding the credibility of the elections.
Reiterating the Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s strict directive not to interfere with the upazila polls, many ruling party leaders have also stressed that the government as well as party should focus more on holding elections in a free, fair and non-violent environment. They also added that if the government failed to do so, it may raise doubts on the government’s credibility in the long-run.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafrullah has said most of the violence occurred due to feuds within the party. He also said the party high-ups had already passed strict directives to the grassroots regarding the matter.
In answer to the question, he said the violence that occurred in the last two phases of the upazila polls might raise questions on the achievements of the government over the last five years.
“It [the violence] might raise questions among the people. After realising this, we will remain alert for upcoming elections,” he said.
However, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser HT Iman, who is also the co-chairman of Awami League’s election steering committee, said the party was aware of the incidents of violence centring the upazila polls but was not anxious over the issue.
“In the last phase of upazila poll, slight irregularities were witnessed but it is not a matter to be anxious about. We have been holding elections in a free, fair and non-violent environment over the past five years, but the continuity was slightly disrupted in this phase of the upazila elections. We will more cautious during the next phase,” Imam, also a member of Awami League’s Advisory Board, told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said that applying experiences of previous phases, the government would provide necessary assistance to Election Commission to avoid incidents of violence, as witnessed in the third phase.
“Out of some 4,500 polling centres, the election commission had suspended elections in around 20 centres, which is not a serious matter,” he added.
Although another party Advisory Board Member Suranjit Sengupta had not shown interest to comment over the issue, another influential member of the advisory board, seeking anonymity, expressed his concerns over the issue.
“The government and party should look into the matter; otherwise such incidents will raise doubts on whether our government can hold a free and fair election in the country, something that we achieved in our previous tenure,” he said.
