SHARMEEN Murshed, general secretary of the election observer group Brotee, indignantly and frustratingly commented in a late-night TV talk show that the standard of election has fallen to an all-time low. She was referring to the sixth phase of aggravating upazila elections. The May 19 New Age reported, ‘Violence, capture of polling stations and snatching of ballot papers allegedly by ruling party men marked the sixth and the last phase of the staggered upazila elections…’ It sounded very much like the very similar reports after the earlier third through fifth phases of the upazila elections. Newspapers carried the headlines, ‘Capture and trickery even in the last phase’ (Manab Zamin), ‘Clashes and cheating at seven constituencies’ (Prothom Alo), ‘Capture of centres and vote rigging in the final phase also’ (Amader Shomoy) and ‘Clashes and stuffing mark last phase of upazila polls’ (New Age), to mention a few at random. The chief election commissioner in his customary late-afternoon news briefing claimed that that voting was peaceful and more pleasing compared to other phases. He informed all that due to trivial violence and abuses out of 746 polling centres voting was halted at two and cancelled at one (Prothom Alo). Brotee in its initial report on May 19 evening mentioned that the polls were marked by violence, capture of polling centres, casting fake votes, and stuffing of ballots. The election irregularities, the report revealed, had transcended the appalling levels in the previous five phases of upazila elections. The chief election commissioner’s comments are in direct contrast with Sharmin Murshed’s remark, newspaper headlines and the Brotee report. The massive divergence seems to be between truth and misrepresentation, reality and fallacy, authenticity and blunder. The apparently hale and hearty, happy and healthy chief election commissioner said what he and his substitute during his long absence have been saying all along with some credulity but not much credibility or acceptability. It is unfortunate that even after his enigmatic and disputed extended leave during crucial phases of upazila elections, and a protracted visit and vacation in the United States, prolonged rest and recreation, the chief election commissioner has repeated the same official shaky stance that has lost its credibility or trustworthiness long ago. The Prothom Alo May 19 caption, ‘Clashes and cheating at seven constituencies’, is significant because the Awami League-supported candidates coincidentally, or perhaps not so coincidentally, won in seven out of twelve chairmanship contests. It is understandable as to why individual candidates would want to win at almost any cost for the glory of it as well as the stature, fringe benefits, status, albeit very limited authority, attached to it. What is not at all clear as to why the ruling party would share the slander and blame for such unjust and undeserving successes. These election outcomes do not amount to a hill of beans in greater scheme of things and can in no way bring about a regime change. Also the main Awami League argument for holding the dubious January 5 election under its direct command and control was that mayoral and numerous local government polls held during the 2009-13 Awami League rule were free, fair, impartial and credible and so would be the general election. With the boundless and endemic infringements, irregularities and vote fraud the party in power has established and confirmed a major fact. That is, not only the national election, upazila elections and by-elections sorely need to be held under the aegis, control and supervision of a neutral and non-partisan entity in the foreseeable future because elections of any level or phase under the tutelage of a political party is unacceptable due to rampant fraud, manipulation and deceit. The paltry, feeble and ineffective EC actions to halt voting at two poling centres and termination of one seem merely token and symbolic. A number of news dailies have published photographs of election officials at least at two constituencies, in a clear signal of fox guarding the chicken coop or the popular Bangla adage that the phantom is in the mustard, nonchalantly and unabashedly plunking seals on ballot papers for the ruling party candidate and stuffing ballot boxes. The tabloid daily Manab Zamin on May 19 listed the irregularities, vote rigging and ballot box stuffing in greater details. It describes the grand festival of vote fraud, ballot box stuffing and overall unsavoury influence on the election outcomes allegedly by ruling party candidates and their goons with compliant local election officials actively collaborating or remaining hopelessly inactive and silent and the law enforcers also loyal, accommodating or passive. According to this newspaper, major infractions and transgressions took place in Comilla, Sirajganj, Bijoynagar in Brahmanbaria, Amtali in Barguna, Kaunia upazila in Rangpur and elsewhere. In minute details the news daily describes the atrocities and aberrations. It is a travesty that after all this and various similar reports in other print and electronic media, the feckless, spineless and subservient Election Commission keeps on harping the same old worn-out, untenable and discredited tune of fair and pleasant election with isolated and minor anomalies and breaches. This whole local government phase-wise election has been a major disappointment, and despairing and frustrating, especially the sixth phase of the dozen upazila elections. The very first phase was relatively equitable and satisfactory. After the ruling party candidates lost this first phase badly, the party felt that its candidates need to win by hook or by crook to display fake popularity of the party and defend the devious outcome of the questionable January 5 election. Things since then have gone from bad to worse in the subsequent phases of the upazila polls. The ruling party, its candidates and party hoodlums, Election Commission and some local polling officials along with certain law enforcing agency members reportedly formed an unholy nexus to snatch victories for the ruling party candidates through shady means, such as vote fraud, vote rigging, capturing polling centres, stuffing voting boxes, etc. These illicit means escalated and intensified till the sixth and final phase of the elections. This has pushed the elections to the pre-1991 military rule manipulation levels. It took years and concentrated efforts to bring some credibility and trust to the local government elections. That all has been wrecked and ruined. The sixth and final phase of the upazila election traits has been especially dreadful and infuriating because in the meantime the Indian general election took place. We saw the glaring and living example of how a colossal and intricate democratic process with 930,000 polling booths, 814.5 million registered voters and 553 million actual voters, over 8 million security personnel and nine phases over a six-week period is handled effectively, efficiently and without major acrimony, rancour or recriminations. We admiringly saw how the Election Commission conducted the massive exercise actively, effectively and efficiently, firmly enforcing the election code of conduct without fear or favour. It was most impressive and commendable. Even the crestfallen and decimated Congress Party did not raise any hue and cry, or register any protest against the Indian Election Commission. The party leadership accepted the devastating loss and accepted the full responsibility for it. Our Election Commission with the same sort of constitutional power and authority acted in the same old compliant and subservient mode and overlooked most of the breaches, meekly and myopically pronouncing the sixth phase of upazila elections as most pleasant and disturbance free. Our Election Commission apparently has learned nothing from the vigorous, positive and venerable example of the Indian Election Commission. Neither apparently has the ruling party here despite heaps of congratulations and acquiescent and deferential letter and messages to the triumphant Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Omar Khasru is a former university administrator who writes on contemporary political and social issues. - See more at: http://newagebd.net/13075/sixth-phase-upazila-elections-same-sham-and-scam/#sthash.rJaqURrt.dpuf