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12:00 AM, December 02, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, December 02, 2018

Critical points raised by House of Commons

Serious questions on elections need answers

The report presented in
 0    
the UK House of Shares

Commons recently had a

lot to say about the “level
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playing field” that our
Election Commission (EC)
Windies unravel after following-on
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reports published abroad US, China declare 90-day halt to new tariffs
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What we gather from the “research briefing” is that the harassment of political opponents is ongoing in Bangladesh.
While the ruling alliance is free to break EC rules, the opposition is finding more and more of its electoral candidates
in jail, with cases against some, not to talk about ordinary party activists. There is a massive dearth of trust between
the government and the opposition parties about whether the December 30 polls will be free, fair and inclusive.

That questions have been raised about the jail term of former PM and leader of the biggest opposition party Khaleda
Zia being extended to 10 years from five as being a ploy to keep her from participating in the election is not going to
find favour with the ruling party. The brief goes on to raise alarm about human rights violations in the country, with
emphasis on the misuse of criminal charges, unlawful killings and the culture of enforced disappearances. Even
more alarming is that the threat of jihadist terrorism is apparently far from being extinguished.

This paper has repeatedly highlighted the dangers of the vacuum created by an opposition-less political arena and
how that space is increasingly being filled up by fringe parties espousing religious extremism. It would be wise to
take heed of this very real threat and strive towards an inclusive election so that politics in our country remains
within the grasp of legitimate parties who answer to the people. At the risk of repetition, we say that in making the
election credible and participatory, the ruling party's role and responsibility are far greater than others', save
perhaps only that of the EC.

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