The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The just concluded city and pourashava elections were held fairly and peacefully under the state of emergency despite some flaws in the electoral process.

This was stated by 'Brotee', an election monitoring organisation yesterday at a discussion session entitled "City and Poura Elections Observation 2008: Findings and Future Implications" at the Dhaka Reporters' unity auditorium.

The representatives of the organization said participation of voters has increased by 32 per cent compared to the city corporation polls in 2002. However, the participation of female voters rose by 6 per cent, they noted.

The spontaneous participation of the voters was the results of improvement of law and order in the country. The terrorist activities centering the election, which were a common scenario during the past local and national elections, almost vanished this time because of prevailing emergency rule in the country, they claimed.

According to Brotee, 12 city mayoral candidates out of 46 concealed information about their actual wealth, educational qualifications and other matters. Besides, the election expenditures of most of the candidates far surpassed the amount fixed by the election commission, according to them.

Sharmeen Murshid, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brotee, said that under the changed political situation the people of the country expected that educated,honest and qualified persons would come forward to contest the elections, but their expectation remained unfulfilled.

"Although the election atmosphere and management system greatly improved under the caretaker government and the emergency rule, but the quality of the candidates was not upto the mark,she noted.

About this report economist professor Abul Barkat said, "Some positive changes in the political arena have come. It is the responsibility of all to sustain it, he stressed.

Terming the report objective one, M Hafiz Khan, former adviser to the caretaker government said, "We are waiting for that days when the people will be able to exercise their franchise without fear or panic under a political government. To reach the goal the political leaders should develop their mindset", he added.

Dr. Dipu Moni, Women Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League central committee, also spoke.