Nomination candidates for election: Tough task for major parties

Unfortunately, despite honest and sincere efforts made by the non-party intelligentsia, eminent business men and our prominent donors, our major political parties (AL and BNP) have not yet shown any real indication for holding discussions on smoothening out of their differences to ensure a free, fair and effective election.

While BNP-led alliance emphasise only on accurate voter list for holding free and fair election the AL-led alliance refuse to participate in the election without reform of EC and CTG. Meanwhile the enigmatic and wayward chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners appears to be going ahead with their plan to hold the election though they know fully well that a very large number of voters will not accept any election under the present election commission.

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The BNP, however, considers the present work of EC quite acceptable (though some of the prominent leaders (ministers) of BNP regard EC's work as not very acceptable). This prompts one to conclude that the CEC may have been appointed to assist the alliance government to do every thing needed for so-called election engineering. If the ruling alliance think that with the help of a controversial voter list (which includes a large number of fake names), intimidation of minority voters and ordinary voters of opposition parties, driving out the election agents of opposition parties from the polling booth and by counting of votes by the politicised returning officers miracles can be achieved in the election they are to tally wrong.

Why they do not realise that though the people of Bangladesh may not be as mature as the Indians, they are at least intelligent enough to understand about the various tricks applied by the candidates during the election. They certainly understand which candidate in their constituency is honest, sincere, dedicated and capable. A few may, however, be lured by money but majority cannot be purchased.

The NDA (led by BJP) of India under the very capable leadership of Vajpayee lost the election mainly because of bad handling of communal matters by the NDA government. During the last four and a half years the minorities in Bangladesh never felt good or secured because of a number of incidents of a attacks on them by the BNP terrorists (in some cases supported by influential BNP leaders).

Apart from this police atrocities on journalists, unprecedented corruption, extraordinary price hike of essential commodities, unparalled terrorist activities by the Jamaat-e-Mujahideen members and unsatisfactory handling of readymade garments workers' grievances will certainly affect adversely BNP's performance in the next election. On the other hand the image of the other partners of the alliance government has been tarnished by the reported allegation against them that they have link with both domestic and foreign terrorist groups and their anti-liberation activities such as attacks on intellectuals believing in secularisation of politics.

Overwhelmed by their unquenchable thirst for power BNP failed (in 2001) to think clearly about the implication of faulty nomination and alliance with the fundamentalist anti-liberation parties.

They have realised now the necessity for becoming less dependent on their alliance partners.

Because of their inadequate political experience and maturity and no experience of running an alliance government, naturally enough, the more experienced and disciplined pro-Islami parties (particularly JI) could extract greater benefit and the burden of bad names (because of mistakes and omissions) has to be borne by BNP alone.

Consensus is that there should be free, fair and effective national election. However, result will only be truly acceptable if the opposition parties participate in the election. In the present situation successful election will only be possible if the following actions can be taken:

a) A fresh accurate (as far as possible) voters' list under a new and reasonably acceptable CEC and ECs;

b) Reform of election commission to make it more powerful and totally free from the control of PMO;

c) Reform of the CTG to make the chief advisor really effective enough to conduct a free and fair election;

d) The anti-corruption commission (ACC) must be made effective to scrutinise the antecendents of the candidates contesting the election;

e) The police authorities must ensure that the candidates are in no way (directly or indirectly) involved in any terrorist activities;

(f) The candidates must not be tax evaders, involved in any anti-social activities, or loan defaulters.

In a highly corrupt under-developed country like Bangladesh it is really hard to find out true honest, dedicated and capable candidates in adequate numbers. Apart from this, the major parties like BNP and AL have other serious and sensitive problems like maintaining balance between the senior and junior leaders, between the field level choice and the choice of the central leaders, allocation of seats among the alliance partners. Apparently these problems are less acute in the AL. However, complaints are often heard about too much of dominance of old guards in AL camp. It is time that AL high command seriously considers encouraging the new generation to handle greater responsibilities.

Nomination of right candidates needs careful scrutiny and good political judgement. Both the major parties appear to be well aware of the problems. It is to be seen how far the high commands of the parties can keep themselves free from the influence of money.

At present the political scenario of Bangladesh is charged with uncertainties because of lack of understanding and cooperation among political parties. Without bothering much about the intricacies of nomination of candidates both the parties appears to be busy in finding ways in capturing power, one for consolidation of its power, to enjoy the wealth it has amassed during the last four and a half years and the other for maintaining its political existence in Bangladesh. Both the parties are so desperate for power that they do not hesitate to show interest in a fallen dictator put behind bars on charges of corruption, tax evasion and misuse of power.

Right nomination of candidate is always important for any elected government. In case of an alliance, finding the right candidate is all the more critical. True democratic parties do not face much difficulty, but if the ultimate choice depends on the whim of the party chief there may remain greater danger of committing mistakes in choosing the right candidate. Thus both these major parties may have to be cautious and careful to gain maximum positive result from their selections for their own benefit and the nation.

A M B S Zahur is a former Joint Secretary.