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Election in Barisal Division

Most voters unaware of ’No' vote

EMRAN HOSSAIN. from Barisal
Enchan, a resident of Diatoli in Palashkhali union, lives in a shanty made of jute sack and polythene in this chilling weather along with his family members, including two minor children.
Many a time, he tried during the previous BNP-led four-party alliance government to draw attention of the union parishad chairman and even the lawmaker from his constituency. Barisal-6, to his poor condition and appealed for corrugated iron sheets in relief, but to no avail.
Then came the 1/11 and to his utter surprise, Enchan saw the joint forces arrested Abul Hossain Khan, former BNP lawmaker, on charges of misappropriating CI sheets meant for relief. This very man is again contesting today's parliamentary elections from the same area.
However, it is not true that Enchan, whose life is blighted by extreme poverty, has never received any relief. He received relief only one time so far -- 500gm of oil, 500gm ofSuji and 500gm of pulse.
For Enchan. it is hard to believe that Abul Hossain has got the chance again to vie for a parliamentary seat even after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACO had submitted the final report in the Cl sheet misappropriation case against him.
I would rather not cast my vote in the
election, as whoever I would vote would not do anything for me," said a helpless Enchan, who even does not know about the newly introduced 'No' vote system in the ballot.
When this correspondent explained the system to Enchan, he said spontaneously: “Now, 1 feel more encouraged. I had been wondering who I would vote for if I dislike all candidates. I will cast 'No' vote."
During a visit to several constituencies in the Barisal division, this correspondent found that many voters are totally unaware of this system and many others do not understand its significance.
While the candidates in Barisal-6 think that a few 'No' votes might be cast, contenders in other constituencies see no possibility of anyone casting No' votes.
Most voters in towns and almost every villager either do not understand the significance of the 'No' vote or think it is useless. The supporters of the candidates also do not talk about the system during their campaign. Instead, they are trying to dissuade the people from casting 'No' votes.
"If the people had known about the significance of the system, there would have been a positive change in society and the people would no longer have welcomed the same old faces," said advocate Manabendra Batabyal, convener of
the Committee of Conscious Citizens in Barisal.
Some people said 'No' votes, however, might be cast in those constituencies where activists of both BNP and Awami League rejected party nominations.
Activists of Jamaat-e-Islami are directly campaigning against the 'No' vote system, saying that the option would rather help the bad people.
Denying the allegations of misappropriation of CI sheets, Abul Hossain said it is a conspiracy resulted from the intraBNP conflict. "As the grand alliance is also suffering from intra-party conflict, many AL men will cast 'No' vote in my constituency," he added.
Grand alliance candidate ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, who is contesting the election from the same area, said, "Some 'No' vote might be cast in my constituency as there is rift in the alliance."
Only some young and educated voters are aware of the option and a few of them said they will cast 'No' votes in the event that they do not have trust in the candidates.
Zahir, a voter in Jhalkathi-2 constituency, said," Had there been a single candidate in the fray, I would have tried the option. There are more than one candidate in my area. Obviously, one of them is better than others. So, why should I waste myvotc?"