As the 12th-parliament elections is appearing closer, all the registered political parties including the left-leaning ones have already started raising their voices on the streets demanding an exclusive election.
The left parties seem no fair will be possible under the incumbent government in the existing situation.
The leaders belonging to the parties alleged that their peaceful movements to restore democracy and hand over the power to an anticipatory government have been barred by the ruling party.
Bangladesh Pratidin Senior Correspondent Rafiqul Islam Rony talked to three left leaders about their thoughts with the next national elections.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said they have been on movement to ensure voting rights of people and next course of action will be fixed regarding the participation in the next polls after announcement of electoral manifesto.
Putting the incumbent government in the custody of snatching voting rights, he alleged that the ruling party is again drawing design to snatch away the voting rights.
He said the administration by corrupts and launders has been going on in different areas of the country while a huge amount of money in the name of mega projects is being laundered.
Besides, people have been leading an inhuman life due to price hike of the essentials as soon as the curse of the Covid-19 is removed, he said.
Urging people to gather under the umbrella of the left democratic forces, he claimed a fair and neutral election can’t be expected without altering the government.
Socialist Party of Bangladesh Co-General Secretary Rajekuzzaman Ratan said they have currently been struggling for ensuring voting rights along with accelerating movement against repression and discrimination.
Terming election as part of democratic system, he observed that an election is one of the best peaceful ways to come in power but any ruling party forgets the method in the allurement of power.
The left party leader said the administration and the law enforcers are administrated by the government to carry out repression on the oppositions to hang onto the power for long.
The decisions taken by the government always don’t go in favour of people resulting in movement, he said protest less atmosphere of politics gives birth to autocracy, he observed.
Asked about the ongoing movement on the next election, he said they don’t want to see such elections held in 2014 and 2018 as a fair and peaceful election is not possible under a partisan government.
On the other hand, Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki said they are struggling for changing the government and its ruling process after holding meeting with democratic minded political parties.
“There is no atmosphere of a fair and acceptable election under supervision of the incumbent government,” he said adding that the power will have to be handed over to the anticipatory government to ensure an electoral atmosphere.
Saki said franchising rights is a must to restore democracy in the country as the rights can’t be established without democratic system.
He observed that the political system depicted in the constitution will have to be changed to bring back the voting rights.
Noting the attacks on the oppositions in recent time, he said the government has desperately been trying to hang onto the power by carrying attacks and accusing in cases.
Coordinator Saki said he is optimistic of changing the government through a simultaneous movement by all parties with the passage of time.
@The article appeared in print and onine versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 19, 2022 and rewritten in Enlish by MSU Hoque
