Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses grave concern regarding the allegation of irregularities in electoral process, creating obstruction for journalists to discharge their duties and attack on opposition party members during the City Corporation Election held on 28 April 2015.

According to different media reports, allegation of irregularities had been raised from different polling centers during city corporation polls. Issuing threats to the polling agents by law enforcers; barring agents from going to centers and getting them out forcefully; facilitating activists of the pro-ruling party, attacking journalists and creating obstruction for voters and journalists allegedly happened on 28 April 2015. Moreover, law enforcers’ static behavior, violent occupation of polling centers by pro-ruling party activists are also noteworthy incidents.

ASK is deeply concerned at such manifestation of an electoral process for the local government. We believe, these incidents have a negative impact upon democracy and democratic governance, which is certainly not desirable Article 11 of the Constitution of Peoples’ Republic Bangladesh has stated, “the Republic shall be a democracy in which fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth of the human person shall be guaranteed, and in which effective participation by the people through their elected representatives in administration at all levels shall be ensured”.

However, the entire democratic culture, peoples’ participation in the electoral process, effective and unrestricted access to public participation were not visible during recent city corporation election. On the other hand, BNP’s early boycott was undesirable too as they had the opportunity to create public opinion and raise specific allegations of irregularities in the voting process.

Due to activities by the government and main opposition party, this election turned up as a meaningless exercise. As a result, it harmed the overall democratic process. We also think that biased behavior of law enforcers to prevent violence during the election process reflects the government’s intolerant and biased approach in this regard.

We urge the Election Commission and Government to conduct impartial investigation and to take appropriate measures based on the investigation.