Vote is our democratic and constitutional right. In a democratic country like Bangladesh, where people exercise their constitutional rights to vote and participate in the running of the government through their elected representatives, voting right is the most important.
With the theme- ‘Sathik Tothya Voter Hobo, Smart Bangladesh Gore Tulbo’ the National Voters Day-2024 was observed on Saturday to continue the progress of democracy in the country and ensure people’s voting right as well. The day is exclusively observed to encourage the country’s people to vote and thereby maximise the enrollment of fresh voters.
The Election Commission’s role is very crucial to enlist new voters, ensure smooth holding of elections at all levels including local government polls and parliamentary election as well. Voting serves as the central pillar of any functioning democracy.
We think National Voters Day will play a crucial role in encouraging the general people to cast votes for strengthening democracy in the country. The Voters’ Day is also encouraging the youths who turned 18 to be enlisted as voters and making them aware about their responsibilities and duties. Therefore, a voter will stay on the road to democracy in the coming days through exercising their voting right and The Voters’ Day will make the young people aware about the voting right to give democracy an institutional shape.
Election Commission’s role
is very crucial to enlist new
voters, ensure smooth
holding of elections at all levels
Earlier country’s people had witnessed General Zia after grabbing power illegally and violating the constitution staged the so-called “Yes-No” vote. The military dictator also staged farcical presidential elections where record 100 percent votes were cast and after the polls.
Snatching people’s constitutional right to vote, Zia had unleashed reign of terror in the country by killing and torturing leaders and activists of pro-liberation political parties and forces. He (Zia) nurtured war criminals, anti-liberation forces, terrorists and militants only to cling to power. The spirit of the Liberation War, democratic values, hard-earned independence and constitutional and people’s voting right were destroyed and violated in many ways. When Father of the Nation Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power, people’s right to vote was established through the slogan — “Amar vote ami debo, jake khushi take debo.”
Therefore, vested elements led by BNP-Jamaat clique, who are out to snatch the democratic and constitutional rights and play with the people’s fate to capture the state power must not be allowed to play ducks and drakes with the voting right of the people again.
