Foreign assistance for election

Recognizing the upcoming general election as crucial for Bangladesh's democracy, the Tuesday Group, a group comprising the foreign diplomats stationed in Bangladesh, took initiative to hold a seminar in November 2005 on International Electoral Best Practices, with a view to discuss political problems particularly the reform of Election Commission (EC) and election process. But the BNP-led alliance government declined to permit the Tuesday Group for holding the seminar, saying that such move would amount to interference in the internal affairs of the country.

Terming the general election in 2007 as a key milestone for democracy in Bangladesh, the visiting European Union's high powered delegation in January urged the government and the opposition to find a way to allow all-party participation so that the people are able to exercise their democratic choice. The EU team said that it stands ready together with others in the international community to assist Bangladesh in holding a free and fair election.

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The envoys from the EU, US, UK, Canada, Australia, China, and Japan have taken up separate and simultaneous moves in the recent days to forge negotiation between the conflicting political camps on the upcoming general election. They also held separate parleys with the chief adviser of the caretaker government, EC, and top political leaders to help to ensure credible election in the country in a level playing field for all contesting parties.

UNSG Special Envoy Craig Jenness arrived in Dhaka on November 29, carrying Kofi Annan's message for the caretaker government and the political leaders of Bangladesh that the world body is concerned over the political situation here stemming for electoral issue. Jenness said the secretary general had sent him to offer UN support to free and fair election.

Jenness, like US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher who visited Dhaka earlier in November, with same intention on his agenda, urged the conflicting political camps to resolve their differences over the election through dialogue in a spirit of compromise.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs John Gastright, arrived in Dhaka on December 4 in an errand to help resolve the prevailing political deadlock over the ensuing general election. He also urged all political parties to show a flexible approach and think with an open mind to have a creative solution to the crisis over the upcoming election. He, however, expressed his optimism that Bangladesh is going to have an election, overcoming the crisis and it will be the most monitored polls ever in the country.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), a Washington-based international affairs body, is also taking much interest in holding a credible election in Bangladesh. NDI conducted a survey on the integrity of our voter list and claimed that 13 percent voters of the current electoral roll (1.22 crore) was either excess or duplicate, which may make election result not credible.

Considering the much-talked about report of the NDI, the EC has launched a door-to-door visit program from December 8, to identify the erasable names of voters enrolled in the voter list. An undisputed voter list is the most important prerequisite for holding a fair election and the highly controversial EC has miserably failed so far to accomplish the task amidst widespread allegations that the updated voter list contains over one crore fake voters.

Bangladesh, a country already plunged into enormous economic, militancy and political problems, is now facing the biggest challenge of holding the general election, free and fair with participation of all political parties. The crucial factor in conducting a credible election is the credibility of the EC. But the EC's credibility has already been undermined in a series of events. Politicization of the EC has created suspicion and misgiving in the public minds about its ability to hold free and fair national elections.

Foreign envoys and powerful individuals from abroad have tried frantically to settle political disputes. It really tramples our national prestige when our political leaders need external mediation to resolve an internal matter.

The watchful eyes across the world are now set on Bangladesh to observe the way it holds its election, meaningful for its future development and stability. It is quite clear that we need foreign assistance for educating the voters and creating awareness among them for free and judicious exercise of their voting right. Donors and stakeholders should also help in terms of international election observation, intensive monitoring, and providing physical facilities.

A free and fair election is what millions in Bangladesh are now craving, with the next general election only a few days away. Unfortunately, the rigging of election in the country happened so often in the recent past and is still a real threat. The people of this country have made many sacrifices for democracy and it is only their indomitable spirit that has prevented the avalanche of rigged elections from engulfing the democracy.

ANM Nurul Haque is a columnist of The Daily Star.