The New Nation - Internet Edition

ONLY about a week ago, The Election Commission (EC) received a jolt when about 30 persons with records of criminality, corruption and conviction, were cleared by the Supreme Court as fit to contest the election. At around the same time, allegations were made by the leader of a major political party that fake ballot papers in hundreds of thousands were detected by him. It was also reported that in some 40 constituencies, the returning officers and assistant returning officers are hard core supporters of a certain political party. The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Wednesday stated that 142 candidates had spent in excess of the Taka 1.5 lakh allowable limit per candidate ahead of the time of election spending.

So, what remains of the goal of holding a free and fair election not influenced by unlimited spending of money and other irregularities? Even in the selection of candidates, the main two parties were reported to have thrown all previous pledges made to the winds of making the process democratic and grassroots based. Party bosses were able to once again monopolise the nomination process and huge money was allegedly put into their pockets by candidates to clinch the nominations. It is too late for the Election Commission (EC) to do anything immediately about such violation of election rules.

The EC has promised not to let matters rest but intends to take up after the election the issues. The commission ought to follow up also the cases of overspending, vote buying and attempts to rig the elections. The EC will be expected to show some spine and assert its independence in the post-election period to press the violators of election rules to account for their behaviour and suffer appropriate penalties.