WHAT is the government up to? Does it want the Election Commission to properly and meaningfully hold the Chittagong City Corporation polls or just make it go through the motions of an election without any substance to it? The opposition’s boycott of the election is now spearheaded by a hartal call for 36 hours in Chittagong on December 13. the day fixed for the submission of nomination papers. On the same day there will be a countrywide morning to afternoon strike to protest the unilateral electoral process. Already the ruling party activists and those of the opposition have drawn the battle line and seem certain to be eye-balling each other on January 3. the scheduled date for polls. The run-up to the election itself cannot be violence-free as the opposition stages rallies and demonstrations while the ruling party activists try to foil these. The whole of the port city is certain to be on red alert with a massive presence of security forces, including the Army and BDR, visualised at every step of the way, especially on the poll day.

With such circumstances of provocation and intimidation besetting the atmosphere, the very fundamental premise of an election, namely expression of public will or posting a free choice is bound to be missing.

Add to this the fact that it is the month of Ramadan. The point here is this that the turn-out cannot make for any credible election. And such narrowly based electoral result has never helped any government either. Remember the 15th February, 1996 election where government party loyalists had to do ballot stuffing in desperation and yet it proved such a costly farce for BNP. The last three by-elections held amidst opposition boycott saw a less than desirable turn-out of voters.

Seized of some of the issues raised above the Election Commission had duly approached the government for an amendment to the pourashaba act to permit a relaxation of the stipulated dates. But the government turned the request down leaving us with but one impression; It is forcing an election down the throat, regardless of how credible it will be. We urge the government to pay heed to the EC's counsel for the good of the country. Though belated, a way out of the mire should still be possible if there is a will to search for it.