Stakes could not be higher

Free and fair election means an election where voters are free to choose in a fair environment. The terms "free to choose" and "in a fair environment" may be summarized as voters' independence of choice in a neutral atmosphere.

There must not be any intimidation of voters is the basic necessity for a free and fair election. There are laws to curb the same. There is a maximum limit of election expenses for each candidate above which they are not allowed to spend. Distributing pecuniary benefits in cash or kind to the voters or even pledge for those by any candidate is prohibited by election rule. Demonstrating muscle power and resorting to violence is prohibited by law and is punishable offence. Creating any type of obstruction to voters is also prohibited.

But, in the present context of Bangladesh today none of the above rules or laws really works to ensure that a voter can decide with an open mind.

Reason behind this is the total failure of the bureaucratic machinery, including civil and military administration, police, election commission, etc to create confidence in people about their safety by ensuring proper law and order and also to impose election rules to regulate over and irregular spending by the candidates.

It is seen from past experience that the personnel responsible for conducting the election are in most cases corrupt, incapable, and insincere. As such, they neither have the will nor the competence to perform in a way to make the election free and fair.

This has made the election a game in which money and muscle plays the most important role in ensuring the victory. This is evident if we analyse the background and activities of successful candidates. It is seen that people with money and muscle are coming out victorious in larger proportion with each subsequent parliament.

It is obvious that recruiting of criminals of proper quality and sufficient quantity has turned out to be the magic formula for major political parties in order to achieve majority seats in parliament required to form the government. The criminals can benefit out of their investment in election only in case they belong to wining party. For that the more desired ones prefer to join a party looking to that prospect.

It cannot be denied that major political parties are not unwilling to accommodate these elements in greater numbers every day. Maybe they consider easy and quick partisan success above national interest. In the process the political leadership is being replaced with persons having questionable past.

Present alliance government could better understand the magic formula and accommodated a good number of goons widely known as godfathers to become MPs. They are allowed to flourish in black money and muscle power under the authority and protection of the government. Only one point needed to be ensured for a win: that the next general election continues to be far from free and fair.

The first action of the alliance government had been to capture all the government, semi-government, and organizations somehow having any link with government, by putting devoted party loyalists in all key positions. Then, irregular benefits are reaped through corrupt practices by party leadership for self and associates from all the organizations by manipulating tenders, taking commission on all deals, appointments, promotions, transfers, postings, etc. Huge amount of black money is amassed through these activities.

All new recruitments, transfers, promotions, postings, extension of service and even making of OSD (officer on special duty) or forced retirement has been done based on party interest, especially with a view towards influencing the next election. Positions of the administration which would be connected in conduct of the next general election are filled by people who are tested to be loyal to the parties of the present alliance government. Others who may not be so are transferred out. Even the next positions are also filled by BNP loyalists to be taken over in case of any reshuffle during care taker government.

A considerable number of police personnel have been recruited during this government. Most of those are done from the party cadres and also as per recommendation of party leaders, irrespective of any criminal record of the candidate or competitive position in selection test. Their training is reduced substantially so that they can take over before election to work in favour of present government party.

Election officers posted in field offices are also recruited mostly from ruling alliance party cadres. Teachers of primary, secondary schools, colleges, officers of local banks etc. are given appointment from amongst the party loyalists and their family members with a view that they can work in favor of the ruling alliance candidates as polling officers, presiding officers etc of voting centers. These are just few examples how the present government manipulated a managed set up with the intension of influencing the next general election.

Government withdrew cases of reportedly about 70,000 accused criminals on different charges of violence and terrorism, terming those as politically motivated. Those were mostly people belonging to parties of the ruling alliance. Almost all the criminals of any locality are offered to be recruited with assurance of protection from police and share of booties from irregular deals. Anybody not agreeing had to face the wrath and may even death in custody.

With the help of those hoodlums and under the active support of the police the government parties have unleashed a reign of terror where nobody dare to protest any wrong doing or even talk against them. People are kept panicked constantly under threat.

The alliance government has manipulated all the election connected institutions at the national level to be manned with the people inclined to them. Even the nation's president was forced to resign for trying to act neutral and replaced by another one with more partisan attitude. The retirement age of judges of High Court is enhanced in a way that one particular chief justice with a past record of intimate association with ruling party is to be made the chief of the caretaker government (CTG). Chief election commissioner and other election commissioners are appointed from among the party loyalists.

Having a group of godfather candidates equipped with black money and muscle power and an already intimidated bunch of voters, the ruling alliance has every reason to hope for a victory in an unfair and un-free election. The ineffective administration, as has already been described, is not capable enough to make the election free and fair. By pre-arranging the election administration from top to bottom with people loyal to them the ruling alliance has set additional precaution to make the election results reflect their desire, and not the people's.

The necessity at the moment is to a have a neutral CTG and a credible EC. First and foremost job of CTG would be to dismantle the existing pre-arranged administration and replace it with people having neutrality as much as possible. Simultaneous to that, it should make a crack down on all godfathers and their bands of hoodlums. Everybody should remember that failure to conduct a free and fair election may lead the country towards a take-over by the criminals in the name of democracy.

GM Quader is a Member of Parliament.