The sixth upazila election is going on in the country. In the first phase of this election, elections were held in a total of 139 upazilas, where the lowest average voter turnout in the history of upazila parishad elections was 36.1 percent.
The ruling party Awami League is worried because it could not increase the voter turnout at the center despite various initiatives to increase the competition in the elections, including distribution of leaflets, cancellation of symbols and prohibition of relatives.
Like-minded parties including BNP boycotted all local government elections in the continuation of the last 12th Jatiya Sangsad(JS) elections. As the main opposition party in the political field is not in the election, the people's interest in the election has also decreased. Realizing that, the ruling party Awami League gave up the symbol to increase competition in the elections. Later, to keep the elections free from the influence of Ministers-MPs, relatives were banned. But that didn't work either. Candidates did not obey the instructions.
Earlier, on Wednesday (May 8), elections were held in 139 upazilas of the first phase. Out of this, 22 upazilas are polled by EVM and the rest by ballot paper.
Out of this, a total of 1,635 candidates, including 570 for the post of chairman, 625 for the post of vice chairman and 440 for the post of women vice chairman, contested. Worryingly, despite the strict instructions of the Centre, 8 candidates for the post of chairman, 10 for the post of vice chairman and 10 for women vice chairman have won without any challenger.
It is known that among the five previous upazila parishad elections, the lowest voter turnout in the last 2019 election was a little more than 41 percent. 61 percent in fourth upazila vote in 2014. The first election of the first term of the current government was held in 2009. At that time too, the vote was 67.69 percent.
On the other hand, two elections were held in 1985 and 1990 during the tenure of former President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, the promoter of the upazila election system. However, even though the exact information of that time is not known, the people concerned said that even then more votes were cast.
This reporter of Barta24.com talked to the responsible leaders of the ruling party about the lower voter turnout in the upazila elections than the national elections.
On the condition of anonymity, they said, the low voter turnout is really worrisome even after our party president, general secretary and other central leaders have tried so hard to make the election competitive! However, if a big party like BNP does not come to the election, the interest of the people also decreases a lot. This is also the case. However, we are trying to increase voter turnout in the next three phases of elections.
However, the general secretary of the party, Obaidul Quader, is reluctant to call the presence of such voters in the election as 'worrisome'. In a press conference called at the Dhanmondi office of Awami League on the evening of the Election Day, whether the voter turnout in the upazila election is less than the national election, he said in response to a journalist's question, "Even the Election Commission has not yet given the account in this regard." About 30-40 percent says, (Election Commission). If it is 30-40 percent, we say it is satisfactory.
Election experts say that the declining voter turnout is an ominous signal for the electoral system of Bangladesh. They urged to find a way out of this now.
They said, where the people of Bangladesh always turn elections into a festival, such a version of the people is not a good sign for democracy. If necessary, by specifying the rate of voter attendance, they also give their opinion in favor of re-election if the vote is less than that.
Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Chairman of the National Election Monitoring Council (JANIPOP), told Barta24.com, "When you know what will happen if you vote, why do you go to vote!" The element of competition cannot be advanced by artificially creating it. Where the country is divided, one side is boycotting elections; another party is thinking that since there is no tough competition in the elections, they are giving more importance to their daily work because it is better for themselves and their families.
When asked to know the way out of the ongoing problems with the elections, he said, "We have to change the election system." The way we are voting, even if 1 vote is counted, there will be no problem in the law. If we fix a percentage there that if 50 percent of the votes are not counted then we have to organize a second time; As long as we do not give any such condition, the election will continue like this.
The responsible leaders of Awami League say that BNP's vote boycott, past arson attacks are also a reason for low voter turnout. Also now that the paddy harvesting season is going on and on the other hand there were storms and rains in various places on the polling day, so many people could not come to vote.
Again, those same leaders admit BNP as a major competitor in the polling field and say that since BNP did not participate in the elections, a large part of the people remained outside the elections. BNP's aversion to elections is also the reason for low votes.
When asked about the reason for the low voter turnout, Awami League's organizing secretary Afzal Hossain told Barta24.com, "There was no harm in the election in this vote." People went to the polling station. The good thing about this election is that there was no murder. It happened peacefully. No one exerted influence. BNP's anti-election campaign, banning people from going to polling stations, definitely has some effect. However, there is no benefit to BNP by doing this. The democratic march will remain intact. I think that all the elections including elections are held on time, this is a step of the democratic process.
Expressing the hope that the voter turnout will increase in the next three phases, he said, "It was raining." Then it was paddy harvesting season. Season is also a matter. As the people all go down during the winter, there is a festival, tea is eaten; there is a festive mood, but it is not in all seasons. Weather, nature, everything depends on voter turnout.
Referring to 'always calling on the people to come to the polling station', the party's relief and social welfare secretary Aminul Islam Amin told Barta24.com, 'Awami League believes that whether the public opinion is verified or the government is changed, it should be through voting. On the other hand, BNP will do politics but will not come to elections that cannot be a right decision.
Local elections are always held under the ruling party. BNP may also resort to fire-petrol bombings like in 2013-14 when going to vote. This is also a reason for low voter turnout. However, there are many other reasons for low voter turnout.