Gazipur Press Club Election Halted 30 Minutes Before Voting, Candidates Angry

The election to the executive council of Gazipur Press Club has been postponed just half an hour before voting was due to begin. The election commission announced the decision on Thursday morning (29 October).

The postponement was announced in a letter signed by Chief Election Commissioner Masud Rana and election commissioners Md Shafiqul Islam Jitu and Md Bayezid Hossain.

Earlier, on the night of 28 October, a letter signed by two of the five members of the caretaker board was sent to the election commission. It asked for necessary steps to postpone the executive council election scheduled for 29 October, citing unavoidable reasons, and said a fresh schedule would be announced later.

The letter was signed by Md Emran Khan, convener of the Gazipur Press Club caretaker board, and member Delowar Hossain. The other three members — Ferdin Ferdous, Shah Samsul Haque Ripon and Mazharul Islam Masum — did not sign it.

Several journalists and candidates have reacted angrily to a decision taken so close to the vote, with many also posting their reactions on Facebook.

Mostafizur Rahman Titu, a journalist with the daily Janakantha, wrote on Facebook: “What kind of decision is this at the very last moment of holding the Gazipur Press Club election! A cordial, pleasant atmosphere has been ruined in an instant.”

Rezaul Karim, Gazipur correspondent of the daily Desh Rupantor, wrote: “The death of a dream. The Gazipur Press Club election has been shut down 30 minutes before the vote. Twenty days of day-and-night hard work have gone to waste.”

Md Al-Amin, Gazipur correspondent of Jamuna Television, questioned how lawful it was to postpone the election on the basis of a letter missing the signatures of three of the caretaker board's five members and signed by the convener and a candidate for president, hours before voting. He also questioned the reason behind the decision.

Md Aminul Islam, a candidate for general secretary and Gazipur correspondent of the daily Agamir Somoy, said: “We were not at all prepared for this kind of decision. The letter postponing the election was sent to the chief election commissioner around midnight. Only two of the caretaker board's five members had signed it. The election commission then postponed the election. No specific reason was mentioned — only unavoidable circumstances.”

Md Iqbal Ahmed Sarkar, a candidate for president and Gazipur correspondent of Channel One, alleged that one side had conspired to stop the election in order to bring it into question. He claimed preparations had been under way for a festive election after a long gap, with everyone taking part, but that one side, fearing defeat, halted the vote half an hour before it began without any logical reason.

He said: “Stopping the election on the basis of a letter signed by only two people, where the signatures of five caretaker members were required, is truly saddening. There are questions about the validity of this decision.” He said the general members of the press club would discuss the matter and decide the next steps.

Chief Election Commissioner Masud Rana confirmed the postponement to reporters over the mobile phone.

Caretaker board member Md Emran Khan, who is also superintendent of the Tongi Child Development Centre, said: “The election has been postponed for now due to unavoidable circumstances. Details will be given in due course.”