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Is this democracy or democrazy?

Shakhawat Liton
A few lakh voters in five upazilas were entitled to exercise their franchise on September 22 to elect their local representatives. But they were not allowed to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Ruling Awami League men allegedly resorted to vote rigging, ballot box stuffing and creating panic among the voters and rivals to win the battle of ballots in Mehendiganj upazila of Barisal, Atpara of Netrokona, Phulgazi of Feni, Digholia of Khulna and Ranisankail upazila of Thakurgaon. The ruling party backed candidates won all the chairmen and vice-chairmen posts up for polls in those upazilas.
The large scale rigging in the polls failed to generate much attention. There was hardly any discussion on it at national level. This is an ominous sign. Has everybody accepted rigging in elections?
What happened in the five upazila polls on September 22 in fact was a reflection of the prevailing situation which developed through the voter-less and one-sided January 5 parliamentary election. The January 5 election bulldozed the electoral system which had been gradually strengthened over the last two decades. Yet, the government formed through the controversial polls survived, which encouraged ruling AL-men to resort to large scale rigging in polls to more than 400 upazila parishads held in February and March and to some more parishads in the following months. That election completely ruined the electoral system. So, there is little hope for free and fair election even in a local government body. Polls in local government bodies can in no way be overlooked or considered less important as democracy cannot flourish if democratic practice is absent at grassroots levels.
The government formed through the January 5 elec-
tions seems to have considered the rigging in the upazila polls as a normal practice. They have not taken any action against the ruling party men who destroyed the electoral system by resorting to widespread rigging in the polls. The government's will is a must for holding a free and fair election. It was proved during the past AL-led government during 2009-2013. A huge number of elections were held in local government bodies, and also by-elections to some parliamentary constituencies. All the polls were largely free and fair. The then government had felt proud of the fairness of the elections.
However, there is a fundamental difference between the past AL-led government and the present one. The past AL-led government was formed through a free and fair election held on December 29, 2008. It did not suffer from crisis of legitimacy. But the present government has lack of legitimacy. Therefore, one may argue that the ruling AL does not have the moral right to take strong actions against unruly party men as the party itself assumed power through a controversial election. The lack of action against the unruly party men will encourage them to destroy further the electoral system whenever any election is held.
The present Election Commission (EC) must take the responsibility for the damage done to the electoral system. It has become a completely dysfunctional body, and seems to have forgotten its constitutional responsibilities. It had opened investigation into the widespread rigging, but the process was a futile exercise as the EC did not find any proof of rigging in the upazila polls. Thus, it has demonstrated its inability to take actions against the widespread rigging in the upazila polls. This EC is also liable for damaging the electoral system by holding the voter-less January 5 election in which more than half of the parliamentary constituencies got their representatives elected without a single vote being cast.
The crucial question is how long will it take to put the electoral system in order? Are those people who were elected through voter-less and rigged elections public representatives? If they do not hesitate to steal people's voting rights, it is natural that they will not hesitate to embezzle people's money and wealth when they are in power. Those who assume power through violating the electoral laws will not be able to uphold the rule of law. They will continue violating the laws for their personal gains. This can in no way be a democracy. Is this a new form of kleptocracy?
Our politicians love to speak for democracy. They very often cite names of other countries when the references suit their purpose. Take two examples how democracy functions in other countries.
The existence of the United Kingdom was put on ballot in the Scottish referendum held on September 18. The UK government, led by David Cameron, did not resort to any means to rig the referendum in favour of the survival of the UK. The Scottish people were allowed to cast their votes to decide whether Scotland will continue staying with the UK or emerge as an independent country after staying with the union for more than 300 years. The outcome of the referendum frustrated those, including the chief of the Scottish government, who had wanted an independent Scotland. Yet, all accepted the outcome. This is the beauty of democracy. The beauty and power of democracy were also made crystal clear when a tea boy, Narendra Modi, emerged as the leader of India, the world's largest democracy. The elections allowed the people to decide how and by whom they want to be governed.
In Bangladesh, the present situation is completely the opposite of democracy. The beauty of democracy is absent.
The writer Is Senior Reporter, The Daily Star.