Holding the national election over an eight-day period can have major benefits

Over the past few months, Bangladesh has been experiencing a whirlwind of events, primarily centred around the upcoming national election scheduled for January 2024. The focus has been on ensuring a transparent and impartial electoral process.

Notably, there have been significant developments, such as the US imposing visa restrictions and European countries, with a special mention to the European Union, expressing concerns.

The foremost concern on everyone’s mind is the necessity to conduct a genuinely free and fair election. This pressing issue has captured the attention of the nation and will continue to be the central topic in the coming months.

It will not be fair to claim that elections in the past used to be entirely free and fair. But the elections held between Bangladesh’s fresh journey toward parliamentary democracy with the fall of the military junta led by Hussain Muhammad Ershad and the one held under the military back caretaker government in 2008 were fair. At least, voters were very enthusiastic in casting votes in favour of their preferred candidates.

The elections were very much participatory during that period. Sadly, the electoral process took a complete U-turn after the general election in 2008. Controversies have been there in almost every election held in Bangladesh be it the national elections, the local government, or the city corporations which were boycotted by the major political parties.

While the ruling party has taken a firm stand that the upcoming national election will only be held under the existing elected government, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been quite vocal about holding the election under a caretaker government or similar type. The role of the self-styled opposition in the parliament has been a very interesting one.

Let us imagine an ideal scenario where all the political parties are participating having a consensus on the modality of the election-time government. It is likely to end the deadlock of “participation.”

But the question is: Will it solve the problem? It is an undeniable fact that the Election Commission (EC) will have to rely on different stakeholders in holding a free and fair election. The EC is mandated with the authority of controlling the civil administration during elections.

But how best can the EC do this with its limited human resources compared to the size of the bureaucracy and other agencies involved?

In this regard, holding elections on eight consecutive days can be a viable solution to ensure that the Election Commission (EC) can effectively control the bureaucracy and conduct the elections transparently and impartially. A simple answer to the proposed eight days is that Bangladesh is now divided into eight administrative areas known as divisions.

One of the major challenges faced by the EC is the limited availability of human resources. In most cases, the EC must rely on the bureaucracy for the conduct of elections. However, the bureaucracy is often perceived as biased and partisan, which can undermine the credibility of the electoral process. By holding elections on eight consecutive days, the EC can control the bureaucracy more effectively and ensure that the electoral process is conducted fairly and impartially.

The idea of holding elections on eight consecutive days has several advantages. First and foremost, it can help reduce the workload on the bureaucracy. Moreover, the bureaucracy can be deployed more effectively, and each officer can be given a specific area of responsibility. This can help reduce the chances of errors and ensure that the electoral process is conducted smoothly.

Secondly, holding elections on eight consecutive days can help reduce the workload on the EC as well. With the elections being spread out over a period of eight days, the EC can monitor the electoral process more effectively, and take corrective action if required. This can help ensure that the electoral process is conducted transparently and impartially and that the results are accepted by all stakeholders.

Thirdly, holding elections on eight consecutive days can help reduce the chances of violence and other electoral malpractices. With the elections being spread out over a period of eight days, there will be less pressure on the system and fewer chances of violence and other malpractices. This can help create a more peaceful and conducive environment for the conduct of elections and ensure that the results are accepted by all stakeholders.

Finally, holding elections on eight consecutive days can help improve the turnout of voters. This way, voters will have more time to exercise their franchise and can do so at their convenience. This can help ensure that more people participate in the electoral process and that the results are a true reflection of the will of the people.

In conclusion, adopting the strategy of conducting elections over eight consecutive days may emerge as a feasible and effective solution. This approach will enable the EC with enhanced control over the bureaucracy while promoting transparent and impartial electoral processes.

Bangladesh can learn from neighbouring India, the biggest democracy in the world in terms of population. The 17th Lok Sabha election was held from April 11 to May 19, 2019 in seven phases to elect its members. After counting votes for approximately four days, the result was eventually declared on May 23. The US, one of the most developed democracies in the world also has similar practices.

However, it is important to ensure that all stakeholders are on board with this idea.

This was first pblished in the Dhaka Tribune on 4 August 2023. Click here to read on site.