Upazilla election-follow up January 23, 2009
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS, local government.Tags: AL, BNP, CEC, upazilla elections
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Nation-wide upazilla election was held yesterday but it was marred by intimidation,violence,rigging, low voter turn out and the people is gripped with a frustration over the way the election was held.
The result so far showed that out of 472 upazilla, 461 result is out , AL got 306,BNP 73, Jamaat 22, Jatiya party 13, others 47.
Chief Election Commissioner on upazilla election said that election didn’t reflect the will of the people. The pro-government element tried to influence the result by force. He also commented that the young and women showed poor turnout in the election.
But the Home Ministry claimed that the polls were peaceful across the country except a few stray incidences.
The LGRD Minister Ashraful Islam add that the few violence that have occurred wouldn’t happened if the local government election be held on party basis.
The State Minster for Home said that it is the Election Commission who were responsible for the law and order situation as all the necessary forces were deployed as required.
It is not the number of seats that AL lost, but question on the credibility of the election erodes the confidence of the people on the government to hold a free and fair election even of a local government nature.
The election will also shake the confidence of the people on the ability of the political government to hold acceptable parliamentary election in place of caretaker government system in Bangladesh.
Before taking such a move the political government must show their good intention and capability to hold a free and fair election under an independent election commission.
There is still a hope remain as the Prime Minister SK. Hasina didn’t speak out yet and we hope that she would realize the stake of the government and will give more importance to the long term need of the government than short terms.
Is AL only set for 5 year term and their vision 2021 will remain for others to materialize?
An ordinary citizen
News link:
Upazilla polls influenced
Ghosts of past return
Fear factor behind the low turnout
Minister, AL MP face jail term
Post Script:
One of the achievements of the upazilla election, as said by Chief Electon Commissioner is ‘a process has began’. We are also agreed with the idea and hope that the local government election sn the future will be more free and fair.
The new government and upazilla election January 19, 2009
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS, local government.Tags: AL-led Government, BNP, Caretaker Government, local government, Upazilla election
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Upazilla election was always a matter of controversy over the last two years after the Election Commission expressed it’s willingness to hold the upazilla election to strengthen the local government. Major political parties were against holding of Upazilla election under the CTG.
But both AL and BNP failed to hold the Upazilla election during their tenures from 1991 though they were commited to hold the election in their election manifestos.
People in general perceived the upazilla election as their empowerment and they responded positively when idea of the upazilla election was floated.
EC once declared to hold the upzilla election in October 2008,but due to pressure from the political parties to shift it beyond the general election date, the upazilla election is then scheduled to 28th December 2008 with general election date on 18th December 2008.Though AL accepted the dates, BNP with its allies opposed the idea. It raised demand to shift the date of elections for 2 to 3 months more.
After hectic negotiations with the conflicting parties, Dr. Hussain Zillur Rahman and his team from the Advisory Council ultimately convinced the parties to participate in the elections. Accordingly, EC declared the general election on 29th December 2008 and upazilla election on 22nd January 2009.
Nation initially concentrated on the parliamentary election of 29th December 2008 and people then were not sure about the upazilla election.
In the general election, AL got the landslide victory. Few people thought that CTG may delay handing over the charge to the elected government and may wish to complete the upazilla election under their control.
But they handed over the charge.
People have seen that AL-led new political government has allowed processes of the upazilla election to be continued under the old leaders of the Election Commission.
It is one of the positive steps that new government has taken so far. It has scored high not postponing the upazilla election and not intefering it. If upazilla electionis held on 22nd January free and fair and if the Election Commission can exert its control over the election completely independent, it will not only boost the image of the government but also of the nation.
An ordinary citizen
Scoring the political parties from Day 1 January 2, 2009
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, scooring the political parties
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The general election is over. AL wins a landslide victory. On the other hand, BNP suffered an unimaginable defeat.
Out of 299 seats contested, AL and its’ allies got 262 seats (AL 230,JP 27,JSD 3,WP 2,) BNP & its allies 32( BNP-29,JI-2,BJP-1),LDP-1, IND-4.
In percentage, AL got 49.02%, (in 2001 it got 40.13%), BNP got 32.74% ( in 2001 it got 40.97%).
In round figure, BNP got 2,30,86,460 votes (in 2001 it was 2,28,33,978).AL got 1.14 crore vote more) than BNP in 2008.
AL acknowledged that the magnitude of victory they have attained in the election was beyond their speculation. It bestowed on AL extra responsibility to fulfill the dream of the people. People will follow every footsteps of AL from Day1. In the same way they will also observe BNP and its allies who form the opposition.
Immediately after the result Hasina called for calm and urged the party men not to go into festivities.Later in the press conference , she invited the support of opposition to build up a prosperous Bangladesh. She offered the post of the deputy speaker and proportionate representation in the parliamentary committees to the opposition. We think this is a positive step from day 1 for AL.
It was difficult for BNP to swallow the result with such a huge margin of defeat.Khaleda refused to accept the result and said that it is the result of long conspiracy of Election Commission and Caretaker Government to make a party win and form the next government. Common people will take it as a failure on the part of BNP to accept the reality.
After one day, CEC said people will not accept any dishonor and disrespect to the verdict they have given in the election.
(Courtesy: The pie chart is taken from the Daily Star)
An ordinary citizen
Invitation:
Readers, you are welcome to put your comment/s on the performance of the political parties in the coming days in this post.
Expectation of people from AL on election result January 1, 2009
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS.Tags: AL, Bangladesh election, manifesto, new governmnet
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Awami league won a landslide victory in the general election held in 29th December 2008. AL and its allies won 262 seats against BNP & its allies 32 seats and others 5 seats. By percentage, AL won 3/4th of the seats.
The landslide victory added extra responsibility to the AL.
Let’s see what people expect from AL.
People wants from AL good governance and no corruption. People also don’t like to see politicization of the administration.
People would like to see the upazilla election to be concluded as scheduled and to be conducted by this Election Commission who have built a good image for them. People also want local government is more strenghen in our country.
People would like to see the constitutional bodies to run independently. In this regard, people would prefer that the new parliament will acknowledge the better ordinances adopted by the caretaker government for the good of the country.
People would prefer that we live in a society of justice. The judiciary will be permitted to work independently and will be more strengthened. The judges will be selected on their record through an independent body.
The government would continue the effort against corruption and will let the Anti-Corruption Commission to work independently and more efficiently.
The PSC will continue as independent institution and recruit the public servants without any pressure or biasness.
The dearest longing of the people is that the new government will bring down the price of the essentials. AL declared that the price of rice would be Tk. 15. In doing so, the government should also look after the interest of the farmers, so that they aren’t deprive of their due share.
They would also maintain law and order more or less perfectly.They would run the government in consensus with the oppostion parties, make the parliament effective, would give due respect to the opposition and due share to the opposition in the parliament.
Hasina opined that poverty is the enemy of her government.New government would take measures to alliviate the poverty and cover all the people under the poverty line within the safety net of employment.
The new generation votes for AL with the hope that a change in the policy and opportunity would come to our country. ICT will give proper attention, internet facility will be extended, IT based job will be created.
Employment should be ensured for the young and business opportunity should be open for all.
Education must be more universal, standarised, uniform amd scientific. Divide between poor and rich, rural & urban must be lessened.Universities and colleges must be kept free from party politics.
Politics also must be kept away from government offices, secretariats, trade unions etc.
Hasina said people rejected the war criminals by voting and necessary legal action would be taken in due course. They must be cautious not to make the issue a mess and push some people to extremism.
Above all, AL would try to fulfill the pledges they have given in their manifesto and will proceed forward to attain their targets of vision 2021 and digital Bangladesh.
An ordinary citizen
Vote: Please cast ur vote to express ur expectation. U have multiple options.
[polldaddy poll=1246370]A look into the defeat of BNP December 31, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, POLITICS.Tags: Bangladesh election, BNP, election result
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On the reverse side of the coin of AL’s landslide win, there is the defeat of BNP, which is also unprecedented. This is the lowest ever performance of BNP.
It will not be unworthy exercise to explore the reasons of it’s defeat.
The landslide victory of BNP in 2001 for the second time after 1990 and its alliance with Jammat-e-Islami with 18 seats gave it a sense of complacence and led it to misrule and corruption. The image of the government also affected by the undue interference by sons and close associates of PM into the state administration.
The partisan politics of BNP also crosses the limit of one’s expectation. They manipulated the recruitment of PSC, altered the result of BCS, appointment and promotion of the university teachers, the selection of postgraduate courses in the medical colleges and BSMMU etc.
They also manipulated the judiciary and failed to fulfill their commitment to separate the judiciary.
During their period, the Muslim terrorist groups grew tremendously, though the leaders were ultimately caught and punished but the then government initially ignored the development.
The price of the essentials were also on the rise that they couldn’t contain.
The attempt of BNP to influence the composition of caretaker government and manipulate the election of 22/1 of 2007 also caused a permanent injury to the mind of the people. Failure of the first caretaker government to conduct a free and fair election also fell on BNP. Jamaat-e-Islami remain silent partner of all their misdeeds.
After 1/11, the new caretaker government’s mission to eliminate corruption also exposed the inner picture of the political leaders. Though leaders of both the parties were accused and put under jail, but it is BNP whose leaders were in large numbers were arrested. tried and jailed. People horrified by knowing their stories of corruption.
While the two leaders were in the jail or abroad, reformist in both the parties tried to win the stage. Though their effort had gone in vein, AL accommodated the reformists in their fold and showed signs of organizational maturity. BNP, on the other hand, though it was expected that the reformist would be accomodated with the party but it didn’t happen. Khaleda thought that her image is enough for the party. The representation of the party by a man like Khondoker Delwar Hussain, whose personal image and sons’ misdeeds was not acceptable to the people, has degrade more the state of the party to the eye of the people.
The delay-delaying tactics of the party for participating in the election also frustrated the people.
When the nomination came BNP choose to place their old party leaders many of whom were accused, arrested or convicted for corruption, extortion etc. Many of the leaders whose nominations were rejected by the EC, challenged the decision in the court and the reinstatement of the candidates in many of the cases also worried the people. The BNP nomination was such that as if it was throwing a challenge to the court and the people on the accusation and perception of corruption against party leaders.The failure of our judicial system to punish the corrupts also made the people to be cautious about their own judgement.
BNP didn’t bother to get the recommendation of the grassroots workers though some of their their leaders were claiming that they had done so. There was a contrast between the reality and the statement.
The manifesto that BNP had projected though lengthier but was more traditional and with no long term vision. The vision of 2021 and digital Bangladesh was well accepted by the new generation.
Khaleda Zia, had toured the country, from one corner to the other, but she didn’t come to Chittagong which also many of his supports longed and in her tour BNP didn’t uitilise the video conference technology at all.
In her speeches, Khaleda was more critical of the caretaker government,as if the CTG is her opponent, she was more suspicious of the certainty and fairness of the election in contrary to the people’s perception and she was less objective in criticizing AL past record and future agenda.
The arrogance of Jammaat-e-Islami regarding recognizing the liberation war and gradual rise of sentiment against the anti-liberation forces and awakening in the young to visit the past also went against BNP in the election.
An ordinary citizen
Vote:
Please cast ur vote to evaluate the causes of defeat of BNP in the general election of December 29 2008. One can give multiple answers.
Bangladesh votes for change December 29, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE.Tags: AL, Bangladesh election, BNP
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10 pm, 29 Dec 2008
Early signs shows that AL and its alliance is going to have a landslide victory.
Bangladesh votes for change. People voted against the incumbent, against the corruption, against terrorism, against partisan politics. They opted for a long term change in the politics and governance of the country.
The new generation played a crucial role.They prefer the candidates over the parties.
Voters turned out in record numbers, more than 70%, an achievement in any standard.
People observe that this election is likely the best in Bangladesh. Peace and discipline was maintained to the best of expectation.
Voter list with photo perfectly supports the national event.
Election Commission deserves appreciation for the work they have done. They have shown tremendous perseverance and commitment to deliver a fair election. All the doubts against them about their neutrality and efficiency proved futile.
AL chief Hasina urges for calm and not to go for any procession or festivities until the final result is officially declared. So far all the result are unofficial.
BNP is hesitant to accept the result without complain. They are complaining of irregularities, vote rigging and harassment of their workers in many centers
People rejected Jamaat-e-Islami for its anti-liberation stand. Very few of their candidates may come out successful. May be none.
Alliance of Jatiya Party with AL will bring JP some good.
Some leaders of the left leaning parties may come to the parliament as a part of the alliance.
Links for news & result:
Daily Star
An ordinary citizen
Post script:
11 am, 30 December 2008
Result of 296 seats are available by now:AL-229, BNP-27,JP-27,JI-02,Others-11
No consensus on national issues before election December 28, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE.Tags: national issuesm consensus on the national issues
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It was expected that the political parties would sit together before the election to have a consensus on the national issues but that didn’t happen despite the people’s aspiration.
Some of the advisers of the caretaker government tried to convince Hasina and Khaleda to sit together. Though initially both the leaders consented to sit together for a dialogue but ultimately that couldn’t be materialized for different political uncertainties. Barrister Rafiqul Hoque, the attorny of both the leaders for their cases in the higher court under emergency rule, who proposes the idea, later abandoned.
But more importantly, though the people, citizen groups and media were eager to see a dialogue held on national issues, but the parties were not sincerely think over the matter.
National issues such as recognising the reform processes of the present caretaker government, making the parliament effective, not calling hartal uncecessarily to jeopardise the public life and economic development, keeping the judiciary independent, continuing the ACC, EC, PSC as autonomous bodies etc,
The minimum consensus on national issues was necessary. It would have been easy if the dialogue on national issues happened before the election. Though the discussion after the election is not impossible, but as the loser in election in our country does not usually accept the result, the opposition tries to noncooperate with every effort of the government, developing a consensus among the political parties will be difficult.
But we hope that the culture will be changed this time and all will accept the verdict of the people and a national consensus may be developed in the first sessiond of the parliament.
An ordinary citizen
Contrast of campaign in Bangladesh election December 26, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, election campaign, strategy of election campaign
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General election is very close. The political parties are engaged in every effort to change the tide of the election in their favour.
Though there are many similarities in their strategies but there are differences also.
AL always longed for an election and was taking preparation with an eye for the election. Even when Hasina was in the jail, she opted for participating in the election.But on the other hand, BNP deferred their decision to participate in the election after the release of Khaleda.
AL preferred to start their campaign by declaring their manifesto in a grandiose manner in the lobby of Hotel Sheraton. BNP began their campaign by visiting the mazar of Hazrat Shahjalal at Sylhet. Hasina covered the incident by adjusting her visit on the day before declaring the manifeso.BNP also declared their manifesto on the following day after AL declared its manifesto. While the AL manifesto touches the philosophy, programs and long term vision of her government, BNP stresses more on the projects and programs for the next 5 years.
In selecting the candidates, AL started with the grassroots recommendations but later adjusted some of the candidates judging the candidatures of BNP and its alliances. BNP due to time constraint but more for its own party policy, chose the old stalwarts of the party.They didn’t even consider whether the candidate was accused or convicted on corruption, extortion etc. Rather they seems to throw a challenge to the caretaker government on their judgment. Many of the convicts and corrupts even joined the race with the verdict of the higher court once the final list of the candidates was declared.
Both the parties preferred to make alliance with the other parties. AL already had in 11 party which includes some small left leaning parties. But later, after interesting political drama, they added Jatiya Party , led by Ex President Ershad who is condemned in history for his 9 yr autocratic rule in 80’s. BNP was in alliance of 4 party with Jamaat-e-Islami and other two parties in their last government which they wanted to continue in this election also. The mathematical formula of winning of BNP with Jamaat in 2001 election actually prompted AL to form alliance with JP though the secular and democratic image of AL is compromised to some extent because of this.
Regarding the anti-libration forces, it preferred to continue its old alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami and is trying negate the idea as political propaganda. Sector Commander Forum identifies 15 candidates of JI who were involved in anti-liberation activities. The alliance of AL with Jatiya Party also tainted it compromise with the anti-liberation forces. 2 of JP candidates endorsed by great alliance of AL.
In the campaign speeches, though the two camps highlighting their manifesto promises, Khaleda keeps her main brunt criticising the failure of the present caretaker government, making allegation of conspiracy of vote rigging and protesting the attempt on her life. Hasina is more objective in pronouncing the party programs to the voters and declared that he ready to sacrifice her life for the country in the backdrop of the news of conspiracy of JMB for killing her. It is true that Khaleda has devoted more time and energy to cover more spaces than Hasina.
Both the parties told of using the internet and digital technology. But none use it to the maximum. AL, BNP and JI have upgraded their websites. BNP projected ads in the TV channels.Later, AL and JP also float their ads in the TV channels. Hasina also made some video conference in distant areas, but not flushed much in the media. Till now, I have got no message from any candidate but got a message to my mobile from Grameen Phone to vote for ‘joggo prarthy’.
Thanks GP. We are in favour of honest and competent candidates.
An ordinary citizen
Will new generation voters change the outcome of the election? December 25, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS.Tags: new generation, new generation voters
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This time much is talked about the new generation voters. About 2.7 crore voters are new voters. Most of them are from 18 to 25 years of age. They were born in the late half of Ershad regime and brought up through the political regimes of the last 15 years and they have also seen the last two that was under a caretaker government.
This new generation, it is taken that, have little affiliation to the political parties. They have not voted yet in the general election and no particular symbol is not imprinted in their mind. They have seen how the political parties grow & behave over the last decades, they will able to compare between rhetorics of the leaders and reality of the ground.
They have seen how the partymen corrupt themselves, gave undue privilege to their own activists in recruitment, education and scholarship, shared the government money allotted for public works, forced people to pay the party workers.
They have also seen the rise of ant-liberation forces, how the political parties used them for their own purpose and how the anti-liberation forces shared the power with a major political party of our country.
They have seen how in the name of democracy, political autocracy was practiced here, how the real development of the country was sold to the luxury of a few people.
Though few people have been convicted due to weakness of our legal system and many of the convicts are also released to compete in the election, but a perception of the corrupts has been imprinted in the minds of the public.
They have seen how nominations are compromised to choose the corrupts, convicts and moneyed men.
They will rejects the convicts, corrupts, musclemen, patrons of the terrorists, anti-liberation forces and the inefficient.
But dilemma will arise when they will have to choose between a convict and a corrupt, between a corrupt and loan defaulter, between a convict and an anti-liberation forces.
It is good that the EC has added an option of Negative vote in this election. Many new generation voters will choose to vote in this category this time.
But in the next election, we hope that this vacuum of acceptable and competent candidates will be filled up by the new generation voters when many of them will cross the age of 25 to be a parliamentarian.
An ordinary citizen
Judiciary frustrates the Election Commission December 21, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, CORRUPTION, ELECTION, JUDICIARY, POLITICS.Tags: Cheif Election Commissioner, Election Commission
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A chamber judge of the appellate division of Supreme Court has ordered Election Commission to accept nominations of some convicted candidates recently after the final list of candidates were published by the Election Commission.[PA]The candidatures were earlier rejected by the EC as they were convicted for more than 2 years by the special court.
One of such candidates is Lutfuruzzaman Babar, Ex State Minister for Home who was convicted for seventeen years for keeping unathorised weapon in his possession. He has half a dozen more case against him.
The oder of the higher court has made the work of EC difficult.
Chief Election Commissioner in his reaction said that they will have to follow the order of the higher court. But the court has taken them as superman and they could accomodate any instruction at any time and even if it comes on the day of election they will accommodate.
When asked by the journalists whether court does not want election, he replied better to ask the court.[PA]
This court a few days back rejected the appeal of Nazmull Huda on the same ground and the Chief Justice along with two judges of the Supreme Court came to a decision that no more convict or loan defaulters will be allowed to compete in the election as the final list of candidates is published.
Interestingly one of the judges who was in the decision making in the morning later went against his own decision in the evening.[PA]
So far 21 new candidates will have to accommodate newly in the ballot papers. Old ballots of lakhs of Taka have to burn out and new ballot papers are required to publish. The complexity creates tremendous pressure on the EC and they are frantically searching the way out.
When the whole nation is waiting for a fair and free election and EC is trying to make a qualitative change in our system, the higher judiciary frustrates the Election Commission.
Along with the EC, people are also feeling frustrated. The frustration is magnified as the non-cooperation is coming, otherwise, from the seat of confidence. Here lies the agony of the common people.
An ordinary citizen
Election manifestos,pledges and practice December 16, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, POLITICS.Tags: Add new tag, AL, BNP, Caretaker Government, Election Commission, manifesto, political parties
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The political parties unveiled their manifestos. It all started with SK. Hasina, declaring AL manifesto on 12th in this month in Hotel Sheraton in the presence of party leaders, foreign dignitaries, journalists and many other invitees and live on the TV channels. On the following date, Khaleda Zia also declared her party’s manifesto in the same pompous way and with a little longer time.
Both the manifestos projected the 5 year agenda of their individual parties and AL goes beyond and project their vision of 2021, the year when Bangladesh will be turn into 50. I like the idea. One of the reasons of our being poor and underdeveloped is the lack of vision of our leaders.This vision 2021 give give us an idea to look forward.
The smaller parties Like JP, JI, WP, CP and a new alliance of Dr. Kamal Hussain, B Chowdhury and Ferdous Ahmed Quraishi also declared their manifestos.
Declaring the manifestos at the beginning of the election campaign give the election a good colour.
The parties make great promises in their manifestos many of which they mentioned in their earlier election manifestos but didn’t fulfill though both the major parties got the opportunity to run the country in the past decades.One example is separation of judiciary.It is the present caretaker government who completed the initiative taken by another caretaker government. Another example is strengthening the local government. In the last 15 years, no government kept their promises. The present Election Commission declared the schedule for the upazilla election- a pillar of the local government amid strong opposition from both the major alliances. We are still not sure whether the present government could complete the task after the general election.
People are also skeptic about the pledges the parties are making. They are looking back over the past years, into the record of the parties ,of the past governments, into the character and commitment of the individual candidates.
Will the party be the single dominant factor? Not necessarily. People will also look into the individuals. One of lessons people integrated in themselves over the years is to look beyond the surface & into the skeleton of parties and the candidates.
In this election, people will compare the pledges and practice of the parties and the candidates.
An ordinary citizen
Analysis on the party manifestos December 14, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, manifesto
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Different experts and individuals have analyzed the manifestos of different parties. We avoid the extreme comments on either way. Few are linked here:
BNPs poll manifesto: pledges are abundant, but specific target missing[DS]
AL manifestos-few questions, some doubts-Asif Nazrul
BNP touches problems, skirts detailing solutions [DS]
AL poll pledges may run into setbacks[DS]
Statistical errors in BNP’s manifesto[PA]
No change in BNP’s attitude-M Hafizuddin, ex-adviser
Overambitious targets in AL’s manifasto-PA
Charters of contrast pledged:DS
Both the major parties manifestos ignored the judiciary-PA
Economic analysis of the AL manifesto-Enam Ahmed and Shahriar Khan[DS]
Defense & two parties Brgd. General (Rt) Shahedul Anam Khan [DS]
Political parties in Bangladesh declared their election manifestos December 13, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE.Tags: AL, BNP, JI, JP, WP
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Politics of alliance in Bangladesh December 11, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, politics of alliance
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Eying the general election, the political parties of Bangladesh are grouping together. AL with the left leaning parties were already in 14 party alliance since long. Ershad’s Jatiya Party is in the process to join with the AL since the last election of 22/1. Many took the alliance as a compromise on the part of AL, basically a secular and traditionally democratic party, with a past autocratic dictator, the fall of which also contributed by AL in 1990.
BNP, on the other hand, packed with Jamaat-&-Islami and other 2 parties to form the 4 party alliance.BNP alliance is also criticized as accommodating to the anti-liberation forces against whom the Sector Commanders Forum is leading a campaign for their immediate trial.But BNP leaders very recently blasted aside the campaign as a political one.
The ordinary citizens are not taking much interest in the formation of alliance as these are alliance of convenience to grab the power rather than alliance of ideologies. These alliances couldn’t even formulate any common election manifesto.So far, AL and JP disclosed their manifesto separately and JI declared it’s manifesto before the BNP distributed it’s own.
The ordinary citizen would rather prefer alliance of the parties after election if at all than before and that would have been good for the democracy and the country.
An ordinary citizen
Loan defaulters, High Court and Bangladesh Election December 7, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE, JUDICIARY.Tags: Election Commission, general election, loan defaulters
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Bangladesh is going to have the next general election on 29th December 2008. After many dramatic turns all the parties came to their good sense and agreed to participate in the election.Though BNP and its alliance has given 3 preconditions, but it seems that BNP will not withdraw from the race against the tide generated for the election, if the preconditions are not fully fulfilled.
All the parties filed their nomination including the independent aspirants. On the instruction of the Election Commission, Bangladesh Bank supplied the name of the loan defaulters. Nomination papers have been scrutinized by the returning officer and many nominations were canceled on the ground of loan default, bill default, discrepancy of information etc, But many loan defaulters managed to get the stay order on the declaration of the Bangladesh Bank and managed to stand for the election.
This bypassing of the law frustrated the Election Commission, the Finance Adviser, citizens groups and the general people as well.
The issue seems clumsy to the ordinary citizen. Who deserve the right to declare one loan defaulter?
It would have been better if Bangladesh Bank be the ultimate authority in this regard atleast for the election.
Hope that the Election Commission and the government will review the matter in the next election.
An ordinary citizen
Grassroots recommendation,political parties & ultimate nomination December 6, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, Election Commission, grassroots recommendation, party nomination, political parties, RPO
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One of the steps taken by the Election Commission arouses glimpse of hope in the minds of ordinary citizens is the regulation to selecting the ultimate candidate for parliamentary election from the proposal of grassroots members of the party.
Accordingly AL took the initiative and completed the rituals and ultimately the parliamentary board made the nomination mostly on the basis of grassroots recommendation. There were few exceptions also.
But when BNP decided to join the election, they decided to select their nomination on the basis of the list they prepared for their election of 1/22/2007 and the role of the leaders after 1/11. In selecting their candidates,they didn’t even consider background of corruption and conviction of their leaders. They stayed in their old mindset.An Election Commissioner also encouraged the idea by saying that it is not mandatory for this election
to nominate the candidates on the basis of grassroots recommendation as said in the RPO.
AL protested the comment and said that an Election Commissioner is favoring a particular party. AL became a bit worried seeing the big stalwarts in the list of BNP candidates and AL itself started to change the nomination previously preferred and replaced them with big businessmen of their own allegiance.
It would have been better if EC could impose this RPO regulation of selecting the nomination from the grassroots recommendation.But that is not going to happen this time.
An ordinary citizen
RPO clause 91/e, Election Commission and political parties November 24, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, CEC, EC, general election, political parties, RPO 91/E
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Political parties were against the imposition of RPO by the election commission. The RPO was revised on persistent pressure from the political parties. They were technically bound to accept the RPO by the Election Commission as a part of the registration process of the parties. Among the parties Jamaat-e-Islami was mostly reluctant to accept the RPO but later they modified their constitution and registered with the Election Commission.
Now, the parties concentrate their attention on the clause no 91/E where the Election Commission has given the power to cancel the candidacy of a candidtae who violates the election rule or the code of conduct for the candiadte .
The political parties are afraid that the rule may be abused by the EC and may be used against the party of it’s choice. But the EC is telling that this power is vested with every election commission of the developed country including India. There is a lengthy process to file a complaint, inquiry against the candidate and lastly the full bench judgement by the election commission. CEC said that the clause will remain and they will judiciously apply the rule only when it will be of dire necessity.
Transparency International of Bangladesh expressed its opinion in favour of keeping the clause otherwise EC will not be able to take any action in case of violations of the election rules and then the election willl not be fair and free.[bdnews24.com]
An ordinary citizen
Opinion: Daily Star welcomes the EC’s sticking to the RPO restrictions [DS]
Towards a general election in Bangladesh: AL should be more liberal and confident November 22, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, CEC, EC, genaral election
2 comments
Khaleda Zia in a press conference on 19th November 2008 declared that BNP is willing to participate in the general election if the schedule in reset on 28th December 2008. She also put forward 3 point demands to fulfil. one is withdrawal of emergency from the date of nomination, cancellation of clause no RPO 91/e where Election Commission has given absolute power to cancel one’s candidacy and to defer the upazillaelection by 1 month. But in spirit she didn’t make it mandatory for the government or the election commission to accept the demands in 100% as a precondition in joining BNP in the election.
The election commission, political parties and people took the development as a positive one. CECand his team sat with the leaders of BNP yesterday and expressed hope for an election with participation of all parties.
But response from AL towards the new development is guarded. They said that 18th December 2008 is the prime time for the general election. To delay this date means to extend the emergency, etc.
But people and all are waiting for an election where all the parties will participate and people will be able to vote without any reservation or fear.
If the election is deferred for 10 days, there will be nothing to lose for AL, rather if she accepts it, it will be a sign of magnanimity, pragmatism and confidence on the part of AL.
An ordinary citizen
‘BNP will harm more to itself than to the country if it does not participate in the election’ November 19, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, CEC, CTG
3 comments
The quote is from Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, an ex adviser of the past caretaker government.
The date of election remain unchanged on 18th December 2008 as the consensus couldn’t be achieved among the major political parties regarding shifting of the election date. The option of the CEC to shift the date from 18th to 28th December 2008 was not accepted. With this the ultimatum of Khaleda Zia to accept their 4 point demands is over.
AL retaliated that they are ready for election on 18th and their party is busy to select the nominations of the candidates for different constituencies. It is time to see how BNP react to the situation arises with the loss of the last hope of accepting their demands.
Khondoker Delwar Hussain, Genaral Secretary of BNP condemned the government decision to hold the election one way without taking into cognizance of the demands of BNP. He said that BNP wants to be in the election but government does not want it to be. He, however, said that BNP will seat with its alliance tomorrow and come into the decision regarding the participation in the election.
The ordinary citizen/s will be happy if BNP come to the election and participate in it with full vigour.
There are difference between 1/22 & 12/18. In 1/22 people were not ready for a general election and the situation is totally reverse now. People are ready for an election to have a leap to democracy and they are waiting how the parties behave.
It will be wise for BNP and its allies to participate in the election even though many of their demands are not fulfilled.
An ordinary citizen
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Campaign for change in Bangladesh in the offing November 17, 2008
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ELECTION, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP, campaign for change
4 comments
Bangladesh is passing through a political crisis and people are eagerly waiting for a change in the political system of the country. They hoped that the political parties would take steps to change our existing systems and would reform themselves. But for long they didn’t take any steps to correct themselves; only very recently few of them are taking measures to correct the party systems. People are still not feeling sure to whether these are only eye washes or real change.
One of the very important issue to which people are interested is to know whether the parties will nominate honest and efficient candidate.
Though the political parties are not responsive for a major change in the political system, people are eager for a change in the system so far practiced in the parties and in the name of democracy.
The leaders of 1/11 also tried to impose reform on the political parties.They have made some changes in the constitutional bodies by promulgating ordinance, the continuity of which will depend on appraoval by the next parliament.
Some changes, however, are imposed by the Election Commission on the political parties compelling compulsory registration and to accept the revised RPO.
People are not sure how far this changes will be maintained and how many honest, efficient and corruption free persons will be elected.
Every body is feeling for the honest and educated people to come to the power in the next election. A campaign for change is in the offing.
Prothom Alo, the leading Bangla news daily started a campaign to change and to be changed.
We are also with them.
An ordinary citizen
Bangladesh
