DHAKA: Impending municipal polls will be an acid test to find out which party, whether ruling Awami League or opposition BNP, is more popular in the country now.
Besides, arranging local government polls through allotting party symbols to the candidates will ensure free and fair municipal elections election.
Speakers came up with this observation in a roundtable on neutrality and reality in the municipal elections, organized by Bangla daily ‘Bangladesh Pratidin’ at East West Media Group Limited (EWMGL) conference room in city’s Bashundhara area around 11:00am Saturday.
Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naem Nizam, also moderator of the program, said for the first time in the country local government elections candidates have been vying with party symbols.
“Pro-BNP leaders and activists are in the field. We have been receiving information of vandalism from every corner of the country as of the periods of earlier polls,” he added.
During the panel discussion, Barrister Ahsan Habib said there are some allegations that local officers-in-charge of police are trying to influence the election.
He, moreover, said it could not be expected to arrange 100 percent errorless polls.
“This election will prove which party, whether Awami League or BNP, is more popular,” he added.
Ekattor TV director of news Syed Ishtiaque Reza put emphasis on covering and airing news of polls related violence.
Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) pro vice-chancellor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said the law enforcers and observers should keep eyes on the election so that no militancy can rise.
Local government expert Sharmin Morshed urged everyone to think about the process of election as enduring system can ignite unrest any moment.
Major General (retd) Abdur Rashid said it seems that certain political parties are preparing their logic for boycotting the elections.
He also said, “We have heard extremists from Pakistan are entering the country and trying to destabilize the environment here”.
“Every political party should have their speech against it,” he added.
Former IGP Hadis Uddin opined that there will be some excitement centering elections as it is like a football match.
“But some parties are showing red cards to opposition beforehand which is unfair,” he alleged.
Former election commissioner Muhammad Sahul Hossain, AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, BNP standing committee member Brigadier General (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, former minister Colonel (retd) Jafar Imam and Jatiya Party (JP) presidium member Ruhul Amin Hawlader were, among others, present in the program.
BDST: 1818 HRS, DEC 26, 2015
BD/SR/RR
