Opposition boycotts NCC election in Bangladesh

by News Desk
October 30, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1913/opposition-boycotts-ncc-election-in-bangladesh

Following gross violations of electoral rules as well as partisan behavior of the Election Commission, main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party has already declared to boycott the Narayanganj City Corporation [NCC] election, which is scheduled to take place on October 30, 2011.

Ruling Bangladesh Awami League has extended support to notorious god-father Shamim Osman, who faces numerous criminal charges for series of criminal activities. The ruling party extended support to Shamim Osman, though according to electoral rules, political parties are not supposed to get involved into any such elections of the local governments.

Barely seven hours before the Narayanganj City Corporation vote, main opposition, BNP announced that mayor candidate Taimur Alam Khandaker, who the party was backing, is boycotting the polls.

"No army has been deployed. Voters have been threatened in their homes," Abdullah Al Noman told journalists at a press briefing at the party chairperson's office.

"In light of this, we reject the Narayanganj City Corporation elections and withdraw our candidate," he said.

An election official has dismissed the boycott call, saying such measure has no legal basis since the election is not political.

Taimur is set to hold a news conference at the district BNP office in Narayanganj city.

The announcement came at an emergency press briefing at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office.

Meanwhile our staff reporters at Narayanganj said, Shamim Osman's gangs are knocking doors of the voters with threat of voting for Osman or "be ready for dire consequences".

The government also has reportedly given secret instructions to the law enforcing agencies as well as presiding officers to "exhibit softer attitude" towards the ruling party backed candidate and his activists".

Narayanganj City Corporation election now stands as burning evidence that free and fair election is impossible under the current government. Moreover, there are now serious doubts about the minimum integrity of the Election Commission in the country. Political analysts are predicting that, by boycotting the NCC election, Bangladesh Nationalist Party has visibly for the first time; put the very acceptability of the ruling party as well as the neutrality of the Election Commission into serious doubts.

Following BNP's boycotting the NCC election; the remaining two of the candidates, both belonging to the ruling party would not get into head-on-collusion during the election of October 30. It is anticipated that, the loser candidate [also belonging to the ruling party] will now openly label the election to have been biased and extremely influenced by the government.

Several analysts even say that, by boycotting the election, BNP has taken the right decision at the right timing, as the ruling party is prepared to exhibit a total lawlessness and cocoon of terror during the NCC election on October 30. The analysts also feel that, boycotting the NCC election will now bring more support for the opposition party in the country, and possibly it would put extended pressure on the ruling party in Bangladesh.

Related Topics:  Bangladesh News receive the latest by email: subscribe to weekly blitz's free mailing list