Political scientist Prof. Emajuddin Ahmed said on Saturday that the next election should be held under a neutral and non-party government because democratic culture in the country has not matured enough for the parties to accept holding of election under the supervision of their rivals.Addressing a roundtable at the National Press Club the former vice chancellor of Dhaka University said that a symbol of neutrality was needed for the administration, by whatever name it is called if the term ‘caretaker government’ has stigma, that would oversee the election.
The roundtable on election politics and its problems in South Asia was organised by the Centre of Strategic and Peace Studies with Shah Abdul Hannan, former secretary to the government in the chair.
Dr. Abdul Latif Masum, Prof. of government and politics, Jahangirnagar University presented a keynote paper while Prof. Peas Karim, Prof. Hasan Mohammad, of Jahangirnagar and Chittagong Universities, Prof Sukomol Barua of Dhaka University, Business leader Abdul Haq, former MP Ferdous Aktar Wahida, former government secretary Zahirul Huq. Editor of Naya Diganta Alamgir Mohiuddin, Editor of Greenwatch Dhaka, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Advocate Tajul Islam, and Barrister Beleyet Hossain took part in the discussion among others.
Prof. Emajuddin Ahmed said, quoting from a statement by the Chief Election Commissioner that holding of free and fair election was impossible if the government does not so want, that about 500 officers and employees of the Election Commission cannot ensure credible national election which needs the active participation of about 12 lakh officers and employees at different levels.
He said that the administration has over the years been so much politicised that blind obedience rather than expertise was now the criteria of good work. Then again there was the ever present danger of the overwhelming influence of money and muscle power which cannot be kept in check.
He said that although Bangladesh was ahead of India in some social indicators, India was ahead in democratic culture. An acceptable election-time government was needed in the country till such time as democratic culture takes firm roots here, he added.
Other speakers said that abuse cannot be the logic behind opposing the caretaker system, because even democracy is abused by establishing one-party system. They said that the absence of consensus on the mode of holding election was a danger sign for the polity. Without securing the institution of election democracy cannot be sustained, they cautioned.
– Staff Reporter
