Editorial
Firm dates announced for elections
Time for political parties to fully cooperate
WITH the chief adviser to caretaker government announcing the timetable for the national election and upazila polls, the clock has been set ticking for a countdown to these much-awaited elections. After more than one and a half years of animated suspense, often clouded with suspicion and uncertainty, we are now in a position to exactly count in weeks and days the waiting time before the polls are held. The caretaker government and the Election Commission have deservedly earned plaudits as the political parties prepare themselves briskly for testing their strength among the electorate. All concerned have their job cut out.
The speech of the CA demonstrates flexibility on the part of the caretaker government to accommodate the demands of the political parties in order that the election is participated by all, and held in a free a fair manner.
There are plenty of reasons for the political parties to feel happy about the announcement of the JS and upazila poll dates. They have prevailed insofar as their main demand, of holding the upazila polls after the JS election, is concerned. It is for them to realise that the ball is now in their court, and that they should not create any roadblocks to the holding of the elections.
As for the upazila election, we find little merit in the reservation expressed by the two major parties about this being scheduled too close to the JS poll date. In fact they are on record saying that they would be willing to have the two elections simultaneously if necessary, but under no circumstances should the UZ polls precede the Sangsad election. We feel that their position has been vindicated.
One would agree that never have two polls at national level been scheduled so close to one another and, therefore, we would expect the election commission to employ all its resources to ensure that the two elections are held without any let, as per the dates announced.
We fail to see the need for insistence of the political parties on lifting of Emergency Power Rules before election. The CA has expressed his government's flexible approach in this regard. He has assured that the relevant provisions would be relaxed, and even repealed, at an appropriate time, to allow free electioneering activities. He should be taken at his words.
We do not see how the current arrangement can be a major impediment for the candidates in their electioneering. We have the recent example of city and municipal elections having been held under EPR, smoothly. There is the law and order factor that cannot be overlooked. Given that even during the emergency there had been occasional deterioration of law and order, of paramount importance should be the holding of a peaceful election.
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