THE holding of the 13th parliamentary elections and the concurrent referendum on the July charter on February 12 was peaceful barring a few incidents. This appears to be a good beginning to a transition to democracy in the 2024 political changeover after three tainted elections held during the authoritarian regime of about a decade and a half of the Awami League regime, which fell in a mass uprising in August 2024. Polling is not reported to have been significantly disrupted because of violence. And no political camps but the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami came up with allegations of irregularities until the voting closed. An hour and a half before the voting closed, the Jamaat-e-Islami had filed a complaint with the Election Commission, seeking the cancellation of voting in several polling centres in Cumilla 8, Shariatpur 2 and Patuakhali 1 constituencies on allegations of irregularities, which include the expulsion of its polling agents, violence and voter obstruction. The voter turnout, especially in the capital city, appeared low. The Election Commission at 2:00pm put the voter turnout at 47.91 per cent, with the turnout figures from 6,620 polling centres pending. It would have been good if more voters had exercised their franchise.
The law enforcement agencies, especially the armed forces personnel, who were on the field on election duties, should be credited with the almost peacefulness of the elections. On the day and the night before polling, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party alleged the use of money against the Jamaat-e-Islami whilst the Jamaat-e-Islami alleged the use of an unusual number of body-worn cameras by the law enforcers and attacks on its people by ‘a specific party.’ As for Jamaat-e-Islami allegations, the Election Commission said that any decisions would be based on police reports. A Jamaat-e-Islami leader was imprisoned for two years in Shariatpur and another for two days in Dhaka on charges of distributing money to voters. A joint forces team briefly detained three in possession of Tk 1.5 million from the car of a joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, also the party’s candidate for the Lakshmipur 6 constituency. But what thwarted any likely distribution of money to voters was the detention of the Thakurgaon unit Jamaat-e-Islami amir in possession of Tk 7.4 million at Saidpur Airport. He was, however, released a few hours later. Yet, election authorities still have a few issues to attend to. There should be no irregularities in ballot counts and relevant authorities should attend to the safety and security of minority communities.
The election authorities should remember that any irregularities in the ballot count would harm the much-awaited transition to democracy. And both the political parties, irrespective of whichever goes to power, and the government should ensure the safety and security of the minority communities. A good beginning should lead to a good journey on the path of democratic transition.
