Staff Correspondent

Speakers on Saturday in a dialogue on elections said that local government elections should be held quickly before the national elections under the interim government.

The speakers said that the people are not getting the desired services due to the lack of elected representatives in local government institutions. Despite the efforts of the local administration, local government institutions cannot play an effective role. On the other hand, if local government elections are held under the interim government, the elections will be free, fair and impartial and there will be more chances of getting acceptable leadership.

The speakers said that in public opinion polls, most people also voted to hold local elections before the national elections.

Referring to past experience, the speakers also said that fair and free elections have never been held in Bangladesh under a party government. Therefore, there is no alternative to political consensus in the current context.

The speakers expressed this at the 'Dialogue on National and Local Government Elections in the Current Political Context' at the National Press Club on Saturday. The Center for Policy Analysis and Advocacy (CPAA) organized the dialogue.

Department of Public Administration of Rajshahi University Professor Dr. Shafiul Islam presented the keynote address while President and former Secretary of CPAA Professor Dr. Shariful Alam moderated the session.

The dialogue was attended by Prothom Alo Joint Editor Sohrab Hassan, Founder of Nirpad Sarak Chai Mr. Ilias Kanchan, CEO of BNNRC AHM Bazlur Rahman, President of SAWAB SM Rasheduzzaman, Former Secretary Abu Mohammad Moniruzzaman, Former Secretary Mohammad Abdul Qayyum, Former VC of Patuakhali University of Science and Technology Professor Dr. Abdul Latif Masum, Additional Secretary of Sakeb Dr. Khandaker Rashedul Haque, Professor of the Department of Political Science, Dhaka University Shariful Islam, President of Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Abdul Haque, Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, and former UP Chairman Abdul Haque Sabuj.

In the keynote, Professor Dr. Shafiul Islam highlighted the history of elections in Bangladesh. He said that except for the elections held under the caretaker government, none of the elections held since 1973 after the country's independence till 2024 have been free, fair and impartial.
He also said that local government institutions cannot be run without people's representatives. 'If local government institutions are ineffective, people are deprived of services and disconnected from the political process," he said.

He advised the government, including the Election Commission, to organize local government elections quickly.

The speakers in the dialogue said that the commission can organize local government elections before the national elections to test the capacity and correct mistakes as the current Election Commission has no experience conducting elections.

Giving emphasis o political consensus, he said local government elections are held under a non-partisan government, political and administrative influence, and nepotism can be eliminated. The administration and law enforcement can perform their duties impartially.

The opportunity for educated, honest and qualified people to participate in the elections increases. The people can elect their local representatives without fear, they said.

In the discussion, the speakers said that even after 53 years of independence, building an independent, impartial and strong election management structure has not been possible. This is a shame for us and a failure of the political leadership. A fair election system has not been developed only due to power-centric thinking.

The speakers expressed that national politicians must come out of this power-centric thinking.

The speakers requested that politicians utilize the opportunity created by the students' and the public's successful July uprising for a new Bangladesh.

The dialogue expressed that considering the current political context, it is necessary to forget differences and complete all election events, including local elections, based on national consensus.