Elections plays a vital role to ensure democracy and good governance in a democratic state. Our ultimate goal is to establish good governance , fair trial for all , and a humanist nation.But Bangladesh has been experienced nine parliamentary elections but the 8th parliamentary election was very much notable for the various form of violence. We have seen in the pre election violence all party are involved in the violence but in the post election violence are opposite.(1) Winner party is strongly involved in the violence which we have seen clearly in the 8th parliamentary election of 2001. Especially I would like to discuss the violence against minorities in 8th parliamentary election
which was held in 2001.And then I would describe pre and post election violence of 8th parliamentary election. Finally I will recommend some initiatives which help to prevent election violence.
which was held in 2001.And then I would describe pre and post election violence of 8th parliamentary election. Finally I will recommend some initiatives which help to prevent election violence.
Definition of political violence:
The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property in order to coerce or intimidate a government or the civilian population in furtherance of political or social objectives.(2)
Armed revolution, civil strife, terrorism, war, and other such causes that can result in injury or loss of property.
Nature of violence:
The nature of election violence are existing in the parliamentary elections of Bangladesh. I would like to present some election violences in the parlimentary election of Bangladesh.(3)
Land grabbing
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Electoral Politics and Violence
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Desecration of Religious Places
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Armed revolution
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Abduction
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civil strife
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Torture
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terrorism
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Pre-election Violence
Police in Bangladesh say two people have been killed in more violence in the run up to next month's general election. An activist from the Awami League was shot dead in Sylhet district as he was campaigning. It's not known who carried out the attack. In Barisal, a man was killed and several others were injured as they were making a bomb. Correspondents say crude bombs are often used during strikes and protests in Bangladesh. (4)
Odhikar conducted pre-election monitoring for 15 days (Sep 12 – 26, 2001). The pre-election reports were received from six divisional coordinators and thirty divisional observers from six administrative divisions of the country. The reports reflected that in most of the constituencies the electoral code of conduct had been violated by the candidates and their supporters. In some of the constituencies, the extent of such violations was extreme. A number of observers have mentioned the use of illegal arms and money. Apart from giving cash and other forms of incentives to the voters, it has been alleged that the candidates donated money to clubs, mosques, madrassas and other societies. Groups known as the ‘extremists’ were campaigning for other candidates under new names. In some areas the minority community and its voters were threatened. In some areas such as Sirajgonj, greater Jessore, Kushtia, Khulna and Shatkhira, the Government was not seriously active to stop the extremists Amnesty International (AI), in its annual report on human rights in the world during 2001, alleged high level of violence against minorities in Bangladesh before and after the elections of 1 October, 2001. The re- port stated that hundreds of Hindu families were subjected to violent attacks including rape, beating and burning of their property following the elections. It further stated that due to this violence hundreds of families reportedly fled to India. (5)
1).The procession of AL candidate Saber Hossain Chowdhury was attacked on the 15th and 18th of September 2001 in Dhaka-6 constituency. The AL election camp had also been ransacked. It had been alleged that BNP had used colored posters and had distributed objectionable stickers
2) In Dhaka-1 constituency there had been one round of fighting between AL and BNP activists on 7th September 2001 and another round between the police and the AL on 8th September. In this constituency, Salman F. Rahman had used colored posters and graffiti indiscriminately. A numbers of motorcycles and microbuses were also being used. It was reported that Salman F. Rahman sent a number of his corporate employees to different areas with promises to build roads, bridges, culverts, schools and madrassas.
3) The situation of Rangamati Hill District was volatile. The PCJSS had called for abandoning the elections. The leaders and workers of PCJSS had launched a full scale anti election campaign and had called for obstructing the elections. Their grievance was that the voters list had not been made according to the CHT Peace Treaty. On the other hand, the opposition party, the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) had nominated candidates for this constituency and had welcomed the locals for votes. In the meantime, the UPDF had submitted the election manifesto to declare autonomy in the hill tracts. The leader of this organization, Proshit Khisha, had appeared in public after being in hiding for nearly a decade, the sources said. There had been reports of fights due to the PCJSS anti-election campaign. There were complains that his organisation had threatened the elite people of Baghaichori not to vote. The same reports had come from Khashia Char, Bilaishori, Baghaichori and Kaukhali of Rangamati. The district administrator and the police had expressed concern over the situation. In meetings with the Chief Advisor and the Chief Election Commissioner in Dhaka, the divisional and district workers had stated their concern.
4 ) In Rajshahi-2 constituency both BNP and Awami League violated the electoral code of conduct. There were allegations that the Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation and BNP candidate Mizanur Rahman Minu misused the staff and the assets of the City Corporation. For example, he used City Corporation’s car for his election campaign.
5 ) In Patuakhali-2 constituency, there was lack of tolerance among the candidates of the two major political parties, AL and BNP. Their supporters and activists had attacked each other in processions and meetings. Candidates were trying to influence the voters in exchange for Sari(s), Lungi(s), T-shirt(s) and money. In this constituency, the BNP had filed a case against the supporters and activists of the AL.
Election Day Observation
Odhikar and Asian Network For Free Elections (ANFREL) jointly observed the 8th National Parliamentary Election of Bangladesh, 2001 (1st October) in 29 constituencies of the country. 275 Local Observers on behalf of Odhikar and 27 Foreign Observers from 17 countries on behalf of ANFREL were deployed in the election monitoring areas. There was a public demand to free the election from arms and money. The Caretaker Government considered the public demand seriously and took all necessary steps to make the election free and fair.
The main focus of the 8th National Parliamentary Election was the spontaneous presence of female voters in the polling centers. Long lines of female voters at every center of the country were a positive aspect of democratization. They lined up with patience for casting their votes. A number of female voters did not cast votes due to ‘Fatwa’ imposed upon them by the so-called ‘religious’ groups of different areas of the country in the previous elections. But this year female voters enjoyed their voting rights and cast their votes. The Caretaker Government took special care for the minority community people to cast their votes. Sick and disabled voters were also helped so that they could cast their votes
Violence against minorities in Bangladesh before and after the elections of 1 October:
The following acts of general violence were committed against the minority communities in Bangladesh during the year.
Land grabbing:
Nine cases of land grabbing from Hindus were reported by the media. These in-clouded instances of grabbing cremation land sites in Panchbibi(6) to large tracts of lands in Langdon-band regarded as sacrosanct (Debottar). The Court has intervened in some cases but the process has been slow and enforcement has been weak. This has left the minority community in a vulnerable state.
Later on these were appropriated by ruling party MPs (7) In Mothbaria, as well, the local AL leader grabbed the property of a minority family.(8) Such acts on the part of the ruling party men only add to the insecurities of the minority communities. Recourse to legal action also does not necessarily re-dress their plight; for instance, notwithstanding the ruling of the court, the land of Shoshthi Rani was recorded in someone else’s name(9). In Rajnagar the houses of fourteen landless families were burnt down on the pretext of arresting a dacoit leader. Consequently these families became homeless(10)
Desecration of Religious Places:
Attacks on religious places like temples and desecration of the idols is a gross violation of the constitutional freedom to practice one's own religion. In 2001 (apart from the post-election incidents), there were four such reported cases. In the Joy Kali temple area, the truck workers were constantly harassed by the Nazrul Bahini (Nazrul force) which had made life in the area unbearable(11). In Narinda, residential quarters were being built by forcibly occupying temple land and demolishing the temple(12). In Khulna, despite the ruling of the Court, there were attempts of forcible occupation of family temples(13).
Attacks on religious places like temples and desecration of the idols is a gross violation of the constitutional freedom to practice one's own religion. In 2001 (apart from the post-election incidents), there were four such reported cases. In the Joy Kali temple area, the truck workers were constantly harassed by the Nazrul Bahini (Nazrul force) which had made life in the area unbearable(11). In Narinda, residential quarters were being built by forcibly occupying temple land and demolishing the temple(12). In Khulna, despite the ruling of the Court, there were attempts of forcible occupation of family temples(13).
Abduction:
There was one reported case of abduction of a Hindu girl. In Habiganj, the terrorists at-tacked and injured three persons and abducted a bride to be(14).
Torture:
Members of minority communities have been tortured on different pretexts. At times, this is done at the direct behest of political parties, both ruling and opposition. For instance, in Nazirpur, a family of a minority community was tortured by the leaders of the ruling AL, as well as the major op-position party, the BNP(15). This is indicative of the consensus between the political elite where majori-tarian interests are concerned. Families are often ejected from their homesteads and cannot return for fear of being further tortured. In the village, Jhaluka of Rajshahi district, eight families suffered from the above predicament(16). People often were scared to take legal measures as they are intimidated and subjected to further torture. There have been instances where refusal to withdraw cases of torture led to further torture of the victims by the perpetrators(17)
Terrorist Attacks:
About 23 instances of gang attacks upon minority communities have been reported in different newspapers. These involved acts of arson, destruction of property, robbery and attacks. The following are a few examples of such terrorization of the minority communities. In Ramgonj, a minority populated village, about 50 families had to leave the village and twelve people were injured due to gang attacks(18). In Dumuria and Bottiaghata, Khulna district, within a span of three days, 40 houses of the minority community were robbed(19). In Bhola about 300 minority families were affected by terrorist attacks(20). In Bagerhat, the houses of the minority community were put on fire(21).
There was one reported case of abduction of a Hindu girl. In Habiganj, the terrorists at-tacked and injured three persons and abducted a bride to be(14).
Torture:
Members of minority communities have been tortured on different pretexts. At times, this is done at the direct behest of political parties, both ruling and opposition. For instance, in Nazirpur, a family of a minority community was tortured by the leaders of the ruling AL, as well as the major op-position party, the BNP(15). This is indicative of the consensus between the political elite where majori-tarian interests are concerned. Families are often ejected from their homesteads and cannot return for fear of being further tortured. In the village, Jhaluka of Rajshahi district, eight families suffered from the above predicament(16). People often were scared to take legal measures as they are intimidated and subjected to further torture. There have been instances where refusal to withdraw cases of torture led to further torture of the victims by the perpetrators(17)
Terrorist Attacks:
About 23 instances of gang attacks upon minority communities have been reported in different newspapers. These involved acts of arson, destruction of property, robbery and attacks. The following are a few examples of such terrorization of the minority communities. In Ramgonj, a minority populated village, about 50 families had to leave the village and twelve people were injured due to gang attacks(18). In Dumuria and Bottiaghata, Khulna district, within a span of three days, 40 houses of the minority community were robbed(19). In Bhola about 300 minority families were affected by terrorist attacks(20). In Bagerhat, the houses of the minority community were put on fire(21).
Table XIV. 1: Pre- and Post-election Assault
Assault on Property and Persons(22) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Assault on Individual Members of the Hindu Community(23)
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Site of Violence(24)
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Post Election Violence:
Odhikar conducted post election monitoring and it was observed that a tense situation was prevailing in the country.
Abdul Mannan, a BNP supporter of Paikpara Village of Hobiginj Sadar was killed; one polling agent of 4 party alliance was stabbed in Gopalgonj; 5 people were injured in Noakhali District; 24 persons were injured in Magura District in post election violence on October 2, 2001.
The supporters of Awami League ransacked several houses belonging to BNP supporters of Gopalpur Thana of Tangail District on October3, 2001.At least 60 people were injured in post election clashes between BNP and Awami League supporters in different places in the district of Sirajgonj on 3 October; at least 15 Awami League supporters were injured by the BNP supporters in Munshigonj District; at least 5 were injured in Chittagong Sadar; 10 people were injured in Barishal; 25 people were injured in Jessore and BNP and Jamaat supporters swooped on the residence of the district Muktijodha Commander and beat his brother to death in Satkhira District in post election violence on 3 October 2001. One Solaiman Ali, a BNP worker was killed and 30 others were injured in post election violence at the village Gholapukur of Rani Nagar Upazila of the District Naogaon on 5th October 2001.In another incident, at least 5 Bangladesh Chatra League workers were injured by BNP supporters; one Safiullah, a Awami League supporter was killed by the miscreants at Sonagazi Upazila of Feni District and one Muktar Hossain, a Jubo Dal worker, was killed and at least 20 people were injured in a BNP and Awami League clash at Kapasia on the same day.
Odhikar carried out post election monitoring till 10th October 2001.The post election report reflected that 52 people were killed and 867 people were injured till 10th October 2001 in reputed incidence of post election violence.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Suggested recommendations, which emerged during the period of election observation, are as follows:
(i) Voters list should be corrected;
(ii) Voters identity card should be issued;
(iii) To increase polling centers specially to increase female polling booth and to make arrangement for separate polling booth for persons with disabilities, elderly people and pregnant women;
(iv) To take effective actions against the violators of election code of conduct;
(v) ‘Electoral Enquiry Committee’ should be more powerful at the local level;
(vi) To train properly those dealing with the election procedure;
(vii) To increase the honorarium and remuneration of the persons dealing with election procedure;
(viii) To make arrangements to cast the votes of the persons dealing with election observation. (25)
Conclusion
At last we can say and decide that the 8th parliamentary election of Bangladesh is notable for the violence aginst minorities for that The above review makes it evidently clear that seeds of violence against the minority community are inherent within the structures of the modern state system and majoritarian democracy, which have led to the dehumanization of politics and turned human beings into vote banks and vote constituencies. Lack of accountability and transparency of the state machinery only makes the situation worse. To come out of this vortex of violence, the structures of state have to be democratized in the true sense of the word. Bangladesh ought to recognize the plurality of its culture and people. Undoubtedly, civil society has the major and the most important role to play in this respect. A politically and humanely conscious citizenry can provide the best safeguard for its own security by compelling the government to democratize itself and make its people oriented.
At last we can say and decide that the 8th parliamentary election of Bangladesh is notable for the violence aginst minorities for that The above review makes it evidently clear that seeds of violence against the minority community are inherent within the structures of the modern state system and majoritarian democracy, which have led to the dehumanization of politics and turned human beings into vote banks and vote constituencies. Lack of accountability and transparency of the state machinery only makes the situation worse. To come out of this vortex of violence, the structures of state have to be democratized in the true sense of the word. Bangladesh ought to recognize the plurality of its culture and people. Undoubtedly, civil society has the major and the most important role to play in this respect. A politically and humanely conscious citizenry can provide the best safeguard for its own security by compelling the government to democratize itself and make its people oriented.
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