Staff Correspondent
The Election Commission (EC) will blacklist election observers if any of them are found biased towards any particular political party during polls monitoring, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said.
Terming the upcoming polls “different from previous elections”, the CEC said fresh voters could change the country’s political culture by casting their votes for honest and competent candidates.
Huda was speaking at the inauguration of an orientation for international observers of Asian Network for Free Elections (Anfrel) Foundation at Brac Centre Inn in the capital. At least 20 long-term and 50 short-term observers of Anfrel will be monitoring situations before and after the polls.
“It is not desirable that observers should support any political party. They will be blacklisted if allegations of any political affiliation are proved,” Huda told newsmen after the inauguration.
This year around 25,000 international election observers will monitor the country’s elections alongside domestic observers.
“Election monitoring is very important because their comments help us improve election management system. But unfortunately some local observers were accused of favouritism. There were, however, no such allegations against international observers,” the CEC said.
Stating that fresh voters were a big factor in bringing changes to US politics, he said the new generation voters in Bangladesh could also do the same. Those who became voters for the first time represent 31 percent of the over eight crore voters.
“This is very significant. They may not vote for candidates with bad records,” he said, urging voters to cast votes as per their conscience, not by others’ influence or in exchange for money.
A person being a voter in more than one constituency, allegations of polls rigging and intimidation were widespread in previous polls, he said, adding that they want to eliminate these so that no allegation is raised.
The EC has taken all possible preventive measures including making a voter list with almost zero errors and introducing transparent ballot boxes, Huda said.
He said a free, fair and credible election is not possible without the cooperation of political parties, observers, polling officials, law enforcers and the voters.
Deputy Chair of Anfrel Surya Prasad Shrestra said making a voter list with photos was a great achievement of Bangladesh which will greatly help in holding a credible election.
“This is a very important reform which has not yet been possible in neighbouring Nepal, India or Pakistan,” said Shrestra, former chief election commissioner of Nepal.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
