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News analysis

Fair polls possible if government wishes

Shakhawat Liton
The Gazipur by-polls have once again proved that if the government is sincere to assist the Election Commission (EC) and the ruling party does not interfere in voting, it is possible to mirror people's verdict in elections under a political government.
There are a raft of reasons for the government's non-interference in the polls, but political observers believe the ruling party ultimately emerged benefited from the election despite the defeat of its candidate.
After a set of controversial byelections under political governments since Magura-2 by-polls, the provision for general elections under a neutral caretaker government was incorporated in the constitution.
The controversial Dhaka-10 by-polls on July 1 won by BNP candidate Mossadak Ali Falu once again destroyed credibility of by-elections under the four-party coalition government of
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
The Gazipur poll is obviously better than 16 previous by-polls held during the Eighth Jatiya Sangsad. Many poll watchers and political analysts feared widespread rigging and violence in the by-polls, but no major untoward incident took place during the eight-hour voting.
The turnout of voters soared to 57.52 in Gazipur in a festive environment, up from less than 50 percent in three previous by-polls -- Netrakona-3, Munshiganj -1 and Dhaka-10.
Political analysts say the government did not interfere in the polls to restore its credibility and erase the stigma of controversial Dhaka-10 byelection.
The coalition government did not comply with the High Court order and the Election Commission's request for deployment of army in each polling centre in Dhaka-10. It was bent on retaining the seat after party lawmaker Abdul Mannan resigned from the BNP and parliament to join the Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh founded by former president AQM B adruddoza Chowdhury.
Mannan questioned the validity of the polls forviolationof the High Court order and a contempt of court case is now pending with the court.
The main opposition Awami League is holding the Gazipur 2 seat since 1996 general elections and the common man were shocked at the assassination of popular lawmaker Ahsanullah Master.
The ruling coalition did not interfere with the polls fearing the same level of backlash that swept the constituency in the wake of the assassination and realising that Ahsanullah's son Zahid Ahsan Russell rode on a sympathy wave.
Russell swept the polls with a wide margin of 47,933 votes and polled 13,
500 more votes than his father in 2001 ballot.
The EC under Acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Safiur Rahman also played an active role to conduct the polls free and fair.
It directed stern action against violators of the code of conduct and even asked BNP-led ruling coalition candidate MA Mannan to come up with an undertaking stating that he would not violate the code of conduct.
He also asked the AL, BNP and the Jatiya Party of upholding electoral rules during campaigning.
The AL boycotted 15 parliamentary by-elections of the Eighth Jatiya Sangs ad after alleging rigging in Netrakona-3 by-polls held in August 21,2003.
The Gazipur 2 by-polls will encourage the main opposition party to participate in Netrokona-2 by-polls. The seat fell vacant at the death of veteran AL lawmaker Abdul Momin.