The recently held Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor Election is very important for Bangladesh and can be used as a good example in many cases. This election proved again that the people are willing to vote and elect a credible candidate. However, there is always room for discussion about how to improve the electoral process in the future. In this backdrop, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised a virtual dialogue titled, “Narayanganj City Corporation Election: Process and Experience”, on 22 January 2022.
While delivering the welcome remarks, CPD’s Executive Director, Dr Fahmida Khatun mentioned the importance and relevance of the NCC Mayor Election at this critical juncture of Bangladesh’s development. She stated that a competitive and inclusive election is essential to establish good governance and accelerate the process of development.
Dr Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow, CPD moderated the session. She set the context for the discussion through highlighting how the non-violent election process at Narayanganj is an example for others. Dr Rounaq Jahan further pointed out how the good image of the candidate has helped in gaining the popularity and credibility, and especially in attracting female voters.
The issue-setting presentation was made by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Country Director, The Hunger Project-Bangladesh. He shared how the role of election commission, government and the credibility of the candidate are most important factors for a free, fair and inclusive election. Although, he showed concerns about the acceptability of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) as it has no paper trails to back the results shared by the election commission.
The credit for the success of the NCC Mayor Election goes to the candidates, said Dr Tofail Ahmed, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Britannia, while speaking as a Distinguished Speaker. He noted that real issues like the problem of waterlogging and poor river management do not get proper attention. The other Distinguished Speaker at the dialogue, Brig. Gen. (Retd) Dr Sakhawat Hussain, Former Election Commissioner, mentioned that it would be inappropriate to compare the NCC Mayor Election to the National Election. He also noted the importance of people’s candidates to ensure inclusive election.
Similarly, Guests of Honour, Ms Aroma Dutta, MP, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Social Welfare, Bangladesh Parliament, and Barrister Rumeen Farhana, MP, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Bangladesh Parliament, stressed the importance of the candidate’s image in ensuring a smooth election process.
Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy, Hon’ble Mayor, Narayanganj City Corporation was the Special Guest at the dialogue. The newly elected Mayor shared her experience during the election process, and she also showed her concern regarding the lower vote turnaround. She also shared her experience of working as the elected Mayor for the last two sessions. Her remarks brought forward the lack of coordination and cooperation of the Ministries and administration with NCC to efficiently work in Narayanganj.
Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy, Hon’ble Mayor, Narayanganj City Corporation was the Special Guest at the dialogue. The newly elected Mayor discussed her election experience and expressed concern about the lower voter turnout. Additionally, she discussed her experiences as the elected Mayor for the last two sessions. Her observations highlighted the lack of coordination and cooperation of the Ministries and administration with NCC to efficiently work in Narayanganj.
The Chief Guest of the dialogue, Mr M A Mannan, MP, Hon’ble Minister for Planning, Government of Bangladesh agreed with others and stated that the need for a credible candidate surpasses all other factors for a good election. Observing Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy’s remarks, the Hon’ble Minister mentioned that the challenges faced by the voters at voting centers need to be discussed further.
Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, CPD, presided over the event and stated that while local elections are unique, they can initiate a tertiary reaction that has a national impact. He also said that the NCC Mayor Election exemplifies how a credible candidate can overcome obstacles and win elections if free and fair elections are held.
High-level policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, academics, business leaders, civil society representatives, international development partners, and journalists participated in the dialogue.