Dr. Tofayel Ahmed, Local Government Analyst : The Election Commission’s (EC) promise to provide equal opportunity for all parties was merely empty words and no action. Thus it makes no difference whether their words are given any importance or not.
Arrests and harassments right before the three elections are not a good sign. Only a few days prior, the High Order gave a directive that all parties participating in the Gazipur City Elections will be provided equal opportunities; candidates and leaders from said parties cannot be harassed. Unfortunately, the HC’s order was ignored. The three city elections stand as proof.
The election is experiencing difficulty and will continue to do so: Whenever a schedule is fixed, it gets postponed; arrests take place even before every election – These are not good signs. These should not have to be noticed by the general people, but rather by the Election Commission. It is a mystery why they are not still doing anything regarding this. Harassing the opposition’s member secretary and election management committee officials is not a good sign. Even administration officials assured that leaders and officials of other parties will not be harmed.
The EC should definitely have some sort of strong statement or stance regarding stopping the harassment on BNP activists.
Based on an interview by Muhammad Naeem, translated by Abrar Hussain
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