The former Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd.) said that there is no interest among the general public in the upcoming 12th National Parliament election. M Sakhawat Hossain said, ‘More than 30 percent people will not come to vote. Bangladesh is again going to see another election like 2014 and 2018.’
He spoke at a special webinar titled ‘Another rigged election: Diplomatic and security risks’ organized by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies on Saturday (December 23).
Sakhawat Hossain said, ’60 percent people have no interest in the election. The remaining 40 percent of people are divided as to what will happen; will not And new voters are wavering. So more than 30 percent people will not come to vote. Because there is conflict among themselves. Bangladesh is going to see another election, the result of which will be the same as before.’
He said, ‘The government says that the voters will really participate in the election. I have already seen how the voters come. Money distribution has started. There are also statements that if he does not vote, his social security will be withdrawn. People should be outside on election day, no matter what happens inside.’
Commenting that ‘dummy’ candidates have been given to make the election competitive and participatory, the former Election Commissioner said, ‘The elections being held in our country in 2014, 2018 and 2024 can be called a hybrid democratic regime rather than an authoritarian one. Democracy has multi-party participation. To show that, a unique work is being done this time, that is, the government party has given dummy candidates who will not be withdrawn. They will contest. Some parties have joined him. It’s like a cover for the contest.’
Former Foreign Secretary M Tauhid Hossain said, ‘Democracy does not mean only elections. Democracy means making decisions based on a social consensus. We have never seen it. Many say that the United States has now moved away from Sin. I don’t think so. They are now in a very advantageous position.’
Post Doctoral Research Fellow Mubashwar Hasan said, ‘Elections are held in all democratic and authoritarian countries. Bangladesh has chosen the election model of authoritarian countries. This election will lead the country to a long-term imbalance.’
In the closing speech, political analyst and columnist Zaheed Ur Rahman said, ‘Nothing can be done with Dhappa. Elections cannot be kept peaceful among themselves. After the incident on the 28th, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights says that the masked men who attacked the Chief Justice, other judges and journalists are believed to be members of the government party.
