CEC should save EC from further disgrace

Recently, the EC has turned into a hotly debated centre of the nation. Several factors can be attributed to this. I get astonished to see that whenever media men want to talk to the CEC he always tries to avoid them. What is the cause behind it remains unknown to me. Is it a place to be controlled and dealt with by some special section of population? Is it a centre for playing hide and seek? The Election Commission is a place or sanctuary for the citizens of this republic. All media men and newsmen must have freedom to portray the picture of the EC to the countrymen and the world. But our CEC always tries to avoid them, which has invited the wrath of common people and doubt in the minds of opposition leaders. Government digest every aspect of EC considering it to be a part of their failure. Actually the thing is not that. Though the government consider the EC as an independent body, they must not remain silent over the activities of the CEC.

By virtue of electronic and scientific advancement the media exposes everything to the public whenever an organisation tries to keep something away from the public in whatever manner. The media has rightly projected 2200 voters' name in the list at Char Ashrayan Project in Rangpur though no one lives there. The inclusion of stranded Pakistanis in the voter list in Khulna and Dhaka further foments doubt in the minds of observers. Thus the voter list prepared under the present CEC sees 15 20 million fictitious voters about which no plausible explanation has yet been available from the CEC. Very recently he said “To err is human”. Is it enough? “Everyone excepting God and the devil may make mistakes.” “I am not biased to anybody. I am a neutral man. My aim is to hold a free and fair election.” He exchanged pleasantries with journalists on June 1 in the Election Commission. He listened to their allegations of not providing information to the media. He apparently expressed his ignorance about such a situation at the EC Secretariat. “I was not aware of this but now I am assuring you that this situation will not continue, you will get all information.” Why has this sense dawned on him after so long? How is it that he has been unaware of the dealings and behaviour of EC secretariat and public relation office? It bears the stamp of inefficiency, whatever his motive was when he stated this.

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Several days back he wanted to refute the voter list scandal by saying “there was an increase of 33.69% compared to the previous voters' list at a yearly increase of 6.74% while in 2006, the rate of increase stands at 22.04% at a yearly increase of 3.67%”. He further put emphasis on not extending the date of receiving public demand, objection and amendment to voters' list. He again said that there will always be scope for correction, amendment and revision. This fickle statement raises question on neutrality, efficiency and sound planning required to conduct a free and fair election. These phenomena regarding the election in a developing country must not be foreign to a High Court judge like Justice MA Aziz. He wanted to light the issue by admitting that the EC doesn't have its own manpower. It had to get the voter list done by three lakh teachers across the country. I will say that they were not properly briefed or guided to make a proper voter list.

This excuse can be termed as lame. Whatever his refutation or defence, no one will accept the misuse of 600 million taka, which accrues from the exchequer. Definitely an individual holding a responsible position cannot act like this. He should have paid full attention to the verdict of High Court first. Without doing that he further appealed to the Supreme Court against the verdict of the High Court. However the Supreme Court has rejected the appeal and upheld the verdict of the High Court. How can this kind of silly behaviour or attitude that he shows to the nation be expected from a member of the judicial department? The norms and spirit of the Supreme Court cannot be unknown to him.

In a democracy the opinion of the opposition is attached the utmost importance. When the opposition raises so many questions of irregularities against the EC why does the CEC not show lenient, sound and logical behaviour towards them? Rather, he sometimes showed a tendency to avoid them. In a democracy the opposition also shoulders the responsibility as the custodian of the republic. Their opinion must be heeded to. Showing repugnance to them proves irresponsible behaviour of the CEC. CEC works as a machine to consolidate democracy. It is a machine to establish, retain and maintain democracy in any country where democratic practice continues. CEC cannot afford to avoid and show indifference towards the opposition. It means avoiding citizens of the country. CEC must not depend on the government only, and must not gather courage from any section's secret promise. He must show honour to public opinion. He must comply with the constitution. He must yield to the spirit of democracy, which means no allegiance to any party in any way.

Md Masum Billah works for PACE Programme, BRAC Head Office, Dhaka.