Punishing those responsible for election-related frauds

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THE Election Commission (EC) with cooperation of all concerned has recently accomplished a Hurculean task of successfully and comprehensively drawing up the list of voters for national elections. It was a commendable exercise in completeness and accuracy. A large number of false voters have been shed in the latest list. This only goes to show the extent of irregularities that were earlier resorted to, for finalising the voters list. Not only the voters' list, national identity cards have also simultaneously been issued to all eligible voters.
The question which, therefore, comes to mind is : if the EC under the present leadership could accomplish these feats, then what prevented it from doing the same before? More important is the question of about all those responsible for all sorts of irregularities relating to the electoral process. Should they not be made accountable for all their omissions and irregularities?
The caretaker government in its bid to penalise guilty persons responsible for high corruption, misuse or plunder of the state's resources and other wrong doings, have been noted for taking appropriate actions against them. It is only pertinent to ask whether this process should also include all those involved earlier in election-related activities who had caused so much sufferings and losses for the nation.
The people have been deeply satisfied by some of the steps taken by the reconstituted caretaker government against the czars of corruption and immorality. But the same would be considered an incomplete exercise if the former nabobs of corruption and depravity at the EC are allowed to slip away.

Shamim Ahmed
Gulshan, Dhaka.