To be oblivious of the state of maladministration, lawlessness and violent disorder, the political class appear to be eagerly looking for every possible diversion to justify their inaction and insensitivity to the misery of the public. World Cup on TV keeps some of them busy at night, and in the capital city, some find solace in traffic jam as they can pass their time listening to foreign news on car radio or have long chats on mobile phone.
With Ramzan coming, the police sergeants are out at every street corner to hold up motor vehicles of all kind at random check and take their time examining papers to collect baksheesh. At police check-points for security, supposed intelligence about Jamaat-Shibir plans of violent agitation provide excuse for their stop-and-search measures for money. What with rains and water-logging in most cities, for hours together, traffic remains standstill at the crossings. On routes under VIP movement or of visiting foreign dignitaries, delays on Dhaka streets could be half a working day.
N’ganj polls and complacent EC
Talking of foreign dignitaries, the roughly 40-hour visit by the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is providing quite an exciting diversion for the political class and its likeminded media. Common people have nothing to be excited about since Bangladesh has been notified ahead that this is but a goodwill and get-to-know visit of the newly-elected Indian government’s top diplomat; the long pending issues of Teesta water-sharing or of land-border agreement implementation by exchange of enclaves and adverse possessions will have to wait.
Public curiosity and concern on the last working day of the week was more about the Narayanganj by-election, where the independent “citizens’ unity” candidate had requested “army” deployment in anticipation of vote dacoity and violent attacks to scare away genuine voters by his main opponent and ruling alliance candidate, who happens to be the brother of the local MP (adjacent constituency) and by reputation city godfather commanding armed cadres, private lock-ups and torture chambers. Local police intelligence also reported to the Election Commission (EC) about possible riots, ballot box highjacking and capture of polling booths by some candidates’ men.
Under the circumstances, the Election Commission found it adequate to deploy 656 members of Rapid Action Battalion and 1,250 policemen in the election area, along with four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Four executive and two judicial magistrates were also deployed to hold trials of those who violate the electoral code of conduct. The independent candidate continued to complain about voter intimidation by the godfather’s men, threatening them of consequences if the “brother” is not elected.
The media reported non-chalance of the Election Commission, and implied administrative acquiescence in the godfather’s scheme for a free-for-all on the voting day. The Chief Election Commissioner had himself acknowledged that the Narayanganj by-election could be a highly sensitive” risky undertaking. But before the voting day, he escaped for a trip abroad. Two other commissioners are out of station, and one is on leave. The acting Secretary of the Commission reported sick. Only one Commissioner attended office, hardly able to cope with the administrative void in the EC.
Voters’ couldn’t vote
And things happened as anticipated. On the voting day, reporters on the ground sent messages: Narayanganj voters in doldrums: A lot of voters had to return without exercising their franchise at the Narayanganj-5 by poll as they could not track their voter roll numbers. Authorised agents of candidates (excepting the godfather’s men) were prevented from attending the polling centres. They were beaten up on their way and driven away. Several voters complained as they were going back home:
‘I couldn’t cast my vote as I don’t know my voter number, even though my national ID card was with me’; ‘I’ve been trying for three hours to cast my vote. Didn’t find anyone outside the centre to help us. ’The Returning Officer was loaded with complaints but seemed ‘helpless’.
‘The candidates were supposed to deliver the slips (containing the serial numbers) to the voters. The authorised agents of the candidates were also supposed to provide those. What can we do if they didn’t?,’ he told reporters. As an instant solution, he asked voters to send a SMS to 2233 with their National ID numbers. A few voters could take advantage of that. Whether for fear of godfather’s men or for the weather, voter turnout was very low at most polling centres.
Several incidents of violence and intimidation, malhandling of polling agents and false voting were reported to newsmen. The election officials recorded them as minor complaints.
Talking of fear of the godfather’s private torture chamber in Narayanganj, the day before happened to be the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition 19-party alliance Khaleda Zia issued a statement on the occasion saying “the country is under a horrific misrule,” and accusing the government of carrying out massive mass killings early this year resorting to vicious repressive policies. She said, “Killing journalists and brutally torturing many of them have become an order of the day, newspapers and television channels have been shut one after another to gag the freedom of expression so that the opposition’s voices are not heard.”
75% youth use drugs
“The government lets lose the law enforcers whenever anyone tries to raise voice against the government’s undemocratic and intolerant behaviour. Women and children are being ruthlessly tortured at different parts of the country by government-patronised terrorists; pious Alem and Ulama were brutally killed; people are not getting justice from the courts. The government is using the court for its own interest. In the country, receiving proper justice has become unimaginable.”
The voting day in Narayanganj, i.e. the last working day of the week also happened to be the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. From reports published by some NGOs and by the Narcotics Control Directorate, statistics compiled show that 1.5 million (fifteen lakh) children in their teens have lost their innocence of childhood by being used in illicit trading of drugs and have themselves become addicts. Known addicts in the country number six million (sixty lakhs). Amongst young people between the ages of 15 and 35, some 75% are found to be exposed to some form or other of drug abuse. What a mess!
Source: Weekly Holiday
