Staff Correspondent
Apart from a section of the urban elite, the provision for ‘no vote’, introduced in the national elections this time, is hardly known to people in the countryside because of poor publicity campaigns on the part of the Election Commission.
In its package for political and electoral reforms, the military-backed government of Fakhruddin Ahmed, had approved an ordinance in August incorporating the provision keeping an option of ‘no vote’ in ballot papers in response to the demands of a section of the civil society.
In Dhaka, many people nowadays talk about casting ‘no vote’ if they did not find a suitable candidate.
‘I have a chance to go for the “no vote” option’, said Mizanul Haque, a resident in Banani of Dhaka 17 constituency.
The working class people living in slums know little about the option.
If the number of ‘no vote’ is more than 50 per cent of the total vote cast in a constituency, the Election Commission will hold re-election to the seat, according to the provision of the new law.
New Age correspondent in Rangamti reported that police had arrested two activists of the United People’s Democratic Front at Rajasthali upazila headquarters of the district on Monday while they were conducting ‘no vote’ campaign.
They were identified as Kozlong Tanchangya, 27, and Jyoti Bikash Chakma, 30.
The police earlier arrested three activists of the UPDF at Zurachhari of the district for ‘no vote’ campaign.
New Age correspondent in Sylhet reported that most of the rural people were not aware of the ‘no vote’ option.
Rahima Begum, a housewife living in village Kararpar under Dakshin Surma upazila, said she knew nothing about the ‘no vote’ option.
Laila Begum of Bishwanath upazila made a similar statement.
Hasib Ali, a trader in Balaganj upazila, said he had heard about it from a neighbour, but understood little what a ‘no vote’ was all about.
Day labourers, construction workers, rickshaw-pullers and slum dwellers in different areas in Sylhet city expressed their ignorance about the issue.
Rafiq Ali, 45, a rickshaw-puller, who lives in a slum in the city’s Kajal Shah area, said that he often watched television programmes at roadside shops in the city but never watched any programmes on ‘no vote’.
New Age correspondent in Rajshahi reported that a few people in rural areas had come to know about their right to cast ‘no vote’ from programmes of television channels.
The state-run mass communication department also conducted campaigns on loudhailers to inform the people in some areas about it.
‘The government advises voters to cast ‘no vote’ if they do not find the candidates suitable’, said Anjuman Ara Begum of Mirganj under Charghat in Rajshahi.
Dibakar Chakrabarty, a college student, said being the first-time voter, he thought he should not cast a ‘no vote’ as by doing so he would waste his vote.
‘I do not support ‘no vote’ provision because the voters who will find no suitable candidate, can refrain from going to the polling centre’, he said.
New Age correspondent in Barisal reported that most of the voters were unaware about the ‘no vote’ option in ballot papers.
New Age correspondent in Magura also reported that voters there were generally ignorant about the option.
Pannu Sheikh, a villager, said he watched TV spots on ‘no vote’ but did not understand why the option had been introduced or how to cast it.
District election officer Humayun Kabir admitted to poor publicity of the ‘no vote’ option. He said different agencies could play a role in making the people aware of the option.
New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat reported that most of the ordinary voters in the district were unaware of the ‘no vote’ option.
Courtesy: newagebd.com
