Vox populi
AN often overlooked point about the recently concluded elections is the extent to which they signal that we are perhaps now entering into a period of increased political sophistication, both in terms of how elections are conducted as well as, hopefully, how elected governments conduct themselves.
One example of this phenomena is the culture of polling that has emerged for the first time in our politics and the positive impact that such an innovation is having on our political culture.
It is very encouraging that the professional and non-partisan pre-election polls such as the Daily Star-Neilsen and New Age polls have shown their worth by accurately predicting the election outcome.
This is of immense benefit in a politically polarised country such as Bangladesh, as it is highly persuasive evidence that the elections were fair and not rigged. In a country where the losing side routinely cries foul, to have some objective measurement of an election's legitimacy is a very positive step.
Even more persuasive evidence than the pre-election polls, is Bangladesh's very first post-election exit poll conducted by IRI (with data collected by Neilsen). This poll was conducted at 150 polling stations in 150 different constituencies and involved 18,000 respondents. In other words, it was pretty comprehensive.
They key findings of the exit poll in my view were the fact that almost everyone polled agreed that the elections had been free and fair, and that when asked who they had voted for, the respondents' responses tallied very closely with the official results. In other words, the exit polls confirmed the election results.
Accurate polling has other advantages beyond merely being able to predict election results or confirming the legitimacy of elections. Polls can also be a useful tool for determining what the public's concerns are, and thus which direction government policy should go.
One of the frustrations Bangladeshis have always had with our governments in the past is that that they have never been that receptive or responsive to public opinion.
Now, at least, the first part of the puzzle has been solved. Public opinion is no longer a matter of conjecture or re-enforcing prejudices or pushing agendas. The government now has access to scientific analysis of what the voters want.
Now, of course polls are only the first step. The second step is actually taking public opinion into consideration. But there is good reason to hope that the second step will follow as well.
What the last three elections have shown us is that the public will not hesitate to vote out of office a government that they are dissatisfied with.
The lack of ceremony with which the last three elected governments have been shown the door by the voters due to poor performance should be sufficient incentive for the government to pay close attention to public opinion.
Here, again, the IRI exit poll is instructive. When asked what issues they would like the incoming government to address most urgently, prices and corruption are, or course, high on people's list, and it is good that the government is paying attention to these issues.
But, one significant concern that is not one of the AL's top five priorities (according to the party manifesto) is law and order. As it happens, law and order was a priority campaign issue for the BNP but not one of the main AL pledges. The exit poll suggests that it should be.
Indeed, casting one's mind back to the last AL term in office, one can recall that inability to control crime was one of the principal complaints that people had against the government.
Similarly, the current government has barely taken office, and what is the big issue already: law and order.
It certainly seems as though one of the unintended and unhappy consequences of the lifting of the state of emergency and the return of democracy is an explosion of crime.
The crime has taken different forms. Political violence has returned with a vengeance. There has also been an up-tick in non-political violence such as the student riot at Titumir College on January 10. Petty extortion, toll collection, and mugging are on the rise.
There can surely be no doubt that it is absolutely in the government's supreme interest to rein in this crime, now.
The government has started well and has taken good first steps with respect to controlling the prices of essentials, especially rice.
But if it does not act with the same swiftness and certainty on the issue of law and order, then all its good work in other areas may be for naught. Stern action to control crime is what people are waiting to see. You don't have to take my word for it. Just look at the polls.
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