Experts at a seminar on Tuesday said the ground reality shows that the Election Commission (EC) has so far failed miserably to ensure an atmosphere conducive to holding a free and credible election.
They also alleged that the EC seemed reluctant to end violence that has erupted since the beginning of the campaign for the upcoming general election slated for December 30.
The experts were speaking at a seminar on 'The challenges of electoral integrity in Bangladesh', organised by the Centre for Governance Studies in the city.
"The EC has apparently failed to ensure a level playing field," former adviser to the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan told the seminar.
Democratic institutions of the country have been destroyed over the years and 'true' democracy is yet to be established in the country though 47 years have gone by since the independence, he opined.
He said the present system as enshrined in the constitution has helped creating an elected autocracy in the country and there is a strong need to ensure checks and balances in the system through amendment to the constitution.
Former EC commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Shakhawat Hussain said the voters appear to be nonchalant over exercising their right to vote in the upcoming election which is a dangerous sign.
It is the EC's responsibility to ensure that the candidates from all political parties contest a seat, but it is unfortunate that seven constituencies are going to have no opposition candidates, although their candidacies were okayed by the EC, he added.
The EC should defend the candidates in the court to ensure that the election is participatory, Mr Hussain said.
"That is why when a candidate dies the EC has to stop electioneering in that constituency."
He also pointed out that the sudden exclusion of the candidates will also create troubles if their names are printed on the ballot papers.
In 2008, the EC had to destroy 2.8 million ballot papers for such incidents, he added.
Former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury said the EC has to play a neutral role in ensuring free and fair election.
Former general secretary of Dhaka University Teachers' Association Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed said ongoing electoral violence across the country has raised a question whether the EC has real control over the law enforcement agencies.
He said failure to hold a fair election would create a catastrophic situation for democracy.
Sharmeen Morshed, Chief Executive Officer of Brotee, said as the candidate selection system was
not being done in a democratic process, the political parties failed to practice true democracy while they ruled the country.
Business leader Abdul Haque said the ground reality shows that the level playing field has not been created by the EC.
BNP chairperson's adviser Ataur Rahman Dhali said the EC seems to be either unaware or reluctant in holding a free and fair election.
BNP candidates were being attacked across the country but the EC was not taking any action in this regard, he alleged.
Presenting the keynote paper at the seminar, Barrister Manzoor Hasan said the Election Commission is under the spotlight to ensure electoral justice.
"The forthcoming election is going to be a turning point which could usher in long-term correction course for Bangladesh's politics," he said.
The EC has an onerous duty to perform in the coming days. They will be held accountable by the future generation if they fail to deliver a credible general election with sufficient degree of integrity, he added.
In his concluding remarks, Prof Ataur Rahman said a credible and fair election is a precondition for ensuring democratic practices.
Keeping this in mind, the EC has to play a proactive role, he added.
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