The necessity of strong and independent EC

The Narayanganj by-election has proved that under a partisan government it is hardly possible to hold any fair election as the ruling party people always try to exert their undue influence to change the outcome of an election in their favour. The voters were clearly reluctant to come out of home to exercise their franchise. As a result, the voter turnout was very low. Allegations were rife that intimidation was made and harassment was meted out to infuse a sense of fear into the minds of common people so that they did not dare to come out to vote. It is reported that many of the polling centres were empty and it made casting fake votes very easy for the ruling party people. The Election Commission has again proved their unworthiness and made it clear how helpless they are at such critical moments. It is indeed sad that despite living in the twenty-first century we have to see such a stage-managed election which shatters the confidence of the common people in the system of democracy. We urgently need a strong Election Commission which can hold elections in a fair manner. Even in our neighbouring country India we see the presence of a strong independent EC. The common people in our country have been denied their franchise many times since the January 5 one-party election and I do not see light at the end of the tunnel, unless we have a real independent and strong Election Commission.

A frustrated citizen

Dhaka