Noman Mosharef :
After a recent comment by the Prime Minister and President of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, about the next parliamentary election, the opposition political parties shoot up their activities.
The oppositions are also talking about the process of arrangement of the upcoming 12th parliamentary election as a free, fair and credible manner. About holding of an acceptable election to all, the oppositions are thinking to present a model of “National Government”. Ahead of this, the opposition political parties are maintaining intra-party discussion, sources said.
Recently, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at a party’s central committee meeting has directed the leaders and workers to get ready for the next national polls. In this context, the opposition leaders are planning to make pressure on the government to hold a participatory and acceptable election in a free and fair manner. They are also thinking to carry out their movement separately or in one platform for achieving their goal.
Another opposition leader said that they would create pressure on the government for forming polls time national government or caretaker government for holding a transparent election.
Though the main opposition BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) did not speak open and clearly about polls time government, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, known as BNP minded intellectual, said leaders of two big parties — Awami League and BNP — and other registered political parties will be the members of polls time national government. However, nationally acceptable person will be the head of the national government, he said.
The national government will announce the schedule of the national elections after completing other activities, including the Election Commission, to conduct free and fair elections, he added. Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, “I do not know about any discussion on the formation of a national government”. However, he said, people do not want to see any more elections under this government.
Bipolobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Hoque said that no more elections would be allowed in this country under the party government. The people of the country will soon raise their voices to assert their right to vote. Because they understand that free and fair elections cannot be held under a party government.
Dr Kamal Hossain led Gono Forum acting General Secretary Shafique Ullah said the formation of a national government is being discussed. Discussions on the formation of a national government have come up from political parties and various other quarters. However, there was no official discussion or meeting on the issue.
Gono Songhoti Andolon Chief Coordinator Junaid Saki said the existing regime in Bangladesh is a “fascist authoritarian regime”. If this regime continues, the country’s democracy and political process will be at a stake. “There will be various political problems in the country, there will be danger”.
“In order to be democratic, this government has to resign. The people’s right to vote must be restored. There is no more election under this government,” he said.
Saki said the structure of the election-time government could be fixed in consultation with the government. And if the government does not do that, the government can be formed through a movement and the structure of the government can be formed consisting of political parties. The issue of presenting the outline of the national government to the nation should be through political discussions. Before that, the government can sit in talks and fix it, he added.
