Editorial
Blemished Upazilla election
A bad start to local government regime
To say the least the just concluded UZ election has been an anti-climax after the national elections of 29 Dec. We are distressed by the brazen use of political clout to influence the conduct of the local government election by the Awami League.
In this regard the rather rueful comments of the CEC deserve serious consideration of the administration. Among other actions of the AL cadres to manipulate the election, the activity of a minister and an MP to directly use the weight of their office to influence the election, demonstrated an unabashed arrogance by persons holding responsible government position.
This we are constrained to say, much as we abhor saying it, the start to the local government regime, that had been held in a limbo for nearly two decades due to the palpable disinterest of the political parties, has been rather frustrating, primarily because of the unwarranted and illegal interference of the Awami League party workers in a large number of Upazillas. Therefore, the responsibility for a less than a satisfactory election must also be shouldered by the party in power at the moment.
The UZ election has been a revelation for us and we would like to think that it is a revelation for Sheikh Hasina too. She must not fail to see the extent her party has been pervaded by indiscipline and the sway of the criminal and self-serving elements inside the party. The party chief must act decisively and without delay. She should have no illusions about who all are responsible for very nearly spoiling the election, and take them to task, whatever may be their standing in the party. She must do this so as not to spoil the gains of the parliamentary election.
We hope too that she will rein in the very overenthusiastic MPs whose unsolicited and unwise actions have helped only in brining bad name to the party. We feel that the more than the usual interest displayed by the Awami League MPs in the Upazilla election has much to do with the future role in local government matters by parliamentarians that the ruling coalition is contemplating to accord to them. In this regard we would like to refer to our yesterday's editorial and repeat that it would be a bad idea to get the members of Parliament involved in local government affairs.
However, in spite of the way the Upazilla election has gone, our faith in and commitment to the local government system remains unshaken. The AL is pledge-bound to strengthen the local government system. It has now devolved on Sheikh Hasina and her government to redeem her party's pledge.
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