Dhaka, Oct 20 – Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder on Sunday said the public representatives who are elected through illegal means do not have any legality of their elections.“The public representatives who are elected through illegal means or resorting corruptions do not have the legality of their elections. There are no questions of responsibility and accountability of the illegal public representatives towards the people,” he said.
“Democracy cannot be consolidated and protected by such means. The nation’s goal is to establish democracy through free and fair elections. A nation without democracy is without dignity. We want to uphold our identity as a dignified nation in the world community,” he continued.
Talukder came up with the statement while addressing at a workshop on the voter list update at the Election Training Institute in the capital.
About the alleged corruption against the election officials at election commission (EC), EC secretariat and field level he said “It’s regrettable. The nation always expects a corruption-free and transparent EC. Country’s election process is also not free from corruption.”
Regarding the importance of the update of the voter list, the Commissioner said, “The precondition of holding a free, fair, legal and acceptable election is fair, true and faithful voter list. The terms ‘true’ and ‘faithful’ is important because once a large number of non-existent or duel voters were identified. It was proved in different surveys.”
“The then voter list was dysfunctional. The voter list with photos has overcome the situation. It’s an epoch-making step to make a biometric database with photos. We are updating the voter list following the database,” he added.
He further said, “It’s undeniable that a non-existent or fake voter list is not acceptable for election. We have overcome it. By the by, if the election commission is stirred by the directives of the government or political parties, it’s not possible for the development and expression of the independent entity of the Commission.”
“The entire election process becomes questionable if the independence of the Commission is not protected from the making of voter list to the declaration of election results. A credible, acceptable and normal election cannot be held by this,” he asserted.
About the challenges of the voter list update, he said, “We have a big challenge ahead of us. Maximum cautionary measures are necessary to prevent the inclusion of the Rohingyas into the voter list by any means.”
He further warned that if any elected official is found involved in the inclusion of Rohingya into the voter list, tougher action would be taken against the person.
He also paid importance on the exclusion of the deceased voters and urged the election officials to build up skilled manpower through training for the inclusion of the new voters.
He also felt the need for simplifying the existing forms of the voter lists.
Among others, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and other commissioners were present on the occasion. – Staff Reporter
