Home ›› 16 Jan 2022 ›› Editorial
All eyes will be focused on today’s Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) elections–a high profile battle of ballots amidst tight security measures. A tough contest is expected between Awami League mayoral candidate Dr Selina Hayat Ivy with ‘Boat’ symbol and independent candidate (supposedly backed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party) Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker with ‘Elephant’ symbol in the polls. The third election for the NCC since its formation in 2011 will also prove to be an acid test for the Election Commission and the administration. Their performance will be under close scrutiny today as there are fears of violence, irregularities and rigging.
Though NCC elections are a local government event, it has assumed a national flavour as the seriousness with which the ruling Awami League has taken the polls is evident. Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the leaders and activists to remain united to ensure victory for Selina Hayat Ivy in the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls during a joint meeting of Narayanganj district AL and Narayanganj municipal AL with AL central coordination committee at her political office at Dhanmondi in the capital on December 21.. “All leaders and activists have to work together. I do not want any division in the party. It is a must to ensure the victory of ‘Boat’ symbol” she said. The city Awami League stalwart Shamim Osman –whose strained relations with Selina Hayat Ivy have caused concerns among the Awami League higher ups– has expressed his determination to set aside his differences with the mayoral candidate and contribute to the party’s victory.
Around 517,357 voters are expected to cast their votes in the polls to elect the city mayor, 27 ward councillors and nine women councillors from the reserved seats. A total of six mayoral candidates, 34 councillor candidates in reserve wards for women and 145 councillor candidates in general wards are contesting this much-discussed city corporation polls. We take this opportunity to urge the voters and those who will be engaged in election activities to be cautious as coronavirus is surging again.
Awami League mayoral candidate Selina Hayat Ivy is contesting the NCC election for the third consecutive time. She won the maiden election to the NCC held in 2011. In 2016, she repeated the feat. She is exuding confidence and has gone on record saying that she will win with a margin of over one lakh votes. However, there are observers who are not so sure. Some feel that the anti-incumbency factor may weigh against her this time around. There are obvious differences among the party workers and leaders which may help the opponents. Advocate Taimur Alam Khandakar is seemingly confident. A seasoned veteran of Narayanganj politics, he is not to be taken lightly. The opposition will consider an Awami League defeat as thumbs down for the ruling party at the national level. There has been some mudslinging between the two main candidates at the fag end of the election campaign. However this is expected during any election. What is most important is to ensure that the will of the voters prevail.
A number of previous elections–at various levels–have been marred by violence and widespread allegations of rigging. Elections have turned into farcical events. A number of local and international human rights organizations have chronicled a relentless campaign of intimidation, ranging from violence and arrests of opposition candidates and protesters to surveillance and the draconian digital security act during election times. Owing to widespread intimidation and systemic oppression, the opposition parties failed to place polling agents in many polling centres to ensure proper counting and certification of ballots during a number of elections. Democratic space in Bangladesh has shrank to an alarming level over the years. If people are not allowed to vote freely, the very concept of democracy becomes a sham.
Democracy is the ethos of Bangladesh as enshrined in the country’s constitution. The powers that be must uphold democratic values and norms. And we want to see a reflection of this in today’s election in Narayanganj.
On a positive note the electioneering of the NCC polls have been relatively peaceful. We urge the Election Commission to ensure that the polls are held in a free, fair and credible manner. The government should do its part and extend all-out cooperation to the commission.
