All barriers need to be eliminated for participatory, free, fair polls: Speakers

It is crucial to eliminate all barriers to make sure the upcoming 12th national polls are participatory, free, and fair as the election holds significant implications for the country's future, according to noted academics, diplomats, former bureaucrats, and election experts.

They made the remarks against the backdrop of a deepening geopolitical and economic crisis while speaking in a roundtable titled "Nirbachoner Pothe Bangladesh" organised by the Editors Guild at Dhaka Gallery on Saturday.

Former election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hossain said, "If we continue to witness a decline in democratic values, we will face imminent danger."

Highlighting the need for transparent and credible electoral processes, Hossain pointed out that the fairness and acceptability of the last two general elections remain in question, which poses a significant threat to the stability and progress of the nation.

He emphasised the pivotal role the next six months will play in determining the trajectory of the country for the years to come.

Echoing Sakhawat Hossain, former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder stressed the necessity of creating an environment that upholds the voting rights of all citizens. He underscored the importance of rectifying the flaws observed in the previous two elections.

Regarding the inference from "outside", he said, "If a government is formed with the consent of people, which was done in the past, the influence from outside will be weakened."

"We have held four elections under the management of the present administrative structure [caretaker government] which have been accepted in some measures at home and abroad. It is also possible now," he added.

The 12th National Parliament Elections are scheduled to be held in the first week of December 2023 or January 2024. Still, there is no consensus among major political opponents on the election-time government.

Regarding the electoral time government, Prof Abdul Mannan, former chairman of the University Grand Commission, highlighted the constitutional framework to hold an election under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"The Election Commission has to be fully empowered. The government would not interfere in the role of the commission," he added.

Brig Gen Sakhawat Hossain said the Constitution's Section-123 deal with the caretaker government.

Regarding the economy of the country, Economist Ahsan H Mansur said the Ukraine-Russia war has an impact, but the issues of inflation, dollar crisis, reserve decline, and power crisis have been brewing for a long time. In such a situation, there should be a good election so that there is no conflict on the road.

Mozammel Babu, president of the Editors Guild, was the moderator of the event.

"We can request all political parties to make the election participatory. The country has suffered a lot in the past because of boycotting or resisting elections. We hope that politicians will make a consensus this time out of their patriotism," he said.

Professor Golam Rahman, editor of Ajker Patrika, said that the participation of major political parties is crucial to establish an acceptable election.

The speakers also focused on institutional development in the long-term to hold a credible election.

The roundtable also featured former diplomat Munshi Foyez Ahmed, Prof Dr Imtiaz Ahmed and Advocate ZI Khan Panna.