Sagar Biswas :
Speculation runs high in the political circle whether the Awami League government is planning to hold an early or mid-term election with the participation of major political parties.
The opposition parties, particularly the BNP, has been apprehending that the government may go for fresh election while it is facing huge criticism over the controversial January 5 voter-less polls, where the Awami League won 153 parliamentary seats apparently without any contest.
The issue of an early election came to the forefront following the latest statement of Public Administration Minister and AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam as he has said that BNP would lose its existence, if it does not participate in next general election.
“The next parliamentary election will be held in accordance with the country’s constitution. Hope, everybody will take part in the election. Boycotting election is not a good norm of politics…and if BNP will boycott election in future, the party will not exist anymore,” he said.
Ashraf made the statement after paying tribute to the grave of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Goplaganj district on Saturday.
The Minister said, “The politics of boycotting election is no more exists. Awami League took part in elections during the marshal regimes of Yahiya, Zia and Ershad….. You must take part in the election, even if you realize that you haven’t any chance to win the election.”
Urging all political parties to join election, he said, “Boycotting election will not bring any good. So, come on and take part in the next election. We hope, the next election will be held in free, fair, impartial and credible manner. Significantly, the statement of ruling party AL came at a time when BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been demanding the fresh parliamentary polls under a ‘neutral administration’. “It is not mandatory to term it as caretaker government. But the elections must be held under a neutral government. As fair elections are not possible under Awami League government,” Khaleda Zia recently has said clarifying her party’s stance over next election.
Against this backdrop, Syed Ashraf further said, “The Constitution has given such authority to the PM [Hasina] to hold an election at anytime. She can exercise this power, or not. If she thinks it is necessary, then the election….. If she does not, it will take place in due time.”
About mid-term election, Syed Ashraf, however, said, “The issue of mid-term election was not discussed in the party forum. Prime Minister also did not discuss the matter. The PM, however, got constitutional authority …If the PM writes to the President requesting to dissolve the parliament for holding the election, then election may be held at anytime.”
The AL leader urged the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia not to celebrate her birthday on August 15. “I do request her not to celebrate her birthday on the day [August 15]. Rather, she can celebrate it on August 16 or August 17.” “The queen of Great Britain was born in winter season. But she doesn’t celebrate her birthday in winter. She observes the day in July to reduce the suffering of the people,” he noted. In an instant reaction, the BNP has expressed severe ‘frustration’ over the Ashraf’s statement that the next general election would be held under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
“We are really upset over his [Syed Ashraf] statement. We also fear whether the government is planning to hold a voter less election like January 5,” Asaduzzaman Ripon, International Affairs Secretary of BNP said yesterday.
Explaining the demand of party Chief Khaleda Zia, he said, “An impartial election is needed very much in the country, whatever it is, it may be in the name of caretaker government or any other name.”
He said, “We are not remaining stick on two words-‘caretaker government’. What we said there will be a neutral government during election time. Because, there will not be any fair election under the supervision of incumbent government.” “It is not a matter of arrogance, or stubbornness… we urge the government to return back the voting rights of the people. At the same time, we urge all the political parties and civil society to discuss about the structure of neutral government,” he said.
Ripon also criticized some AL leaders for their illusive comments against BNP’s internal matter.
“We have noticed that some ‘powerless’ ruling party leaders are trying to attract media for their own survival by issuing illusive comments against BNP and its leaders,” he said.
Earlier, in January, PM Sheikh Hasina has rejected her arch rival Khaleda Zia’s seven-point proposal, including holding of a dialogue over mid-term general election.
“I don’t see any possibility of dialogue … there’ll be dialogue only before the next election,” Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed had said, adding that the dialogue could be held 90 days prior to the next election to be held in January 2019.
