Bangladesh is becoming increasingly apparent as political parties debate the timing of national elections and the scope of state reforms, with key parties at odds over how and when the country should go to the polls.
Interim government Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus recently stated that national elections could be held by December if minimal reforms are pursued, or postponed until June next year to allow for broader institutional changes.
The country's largest political party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is calling for swift elections following a set of minimal reforms. “Reform is an ongoing process,” BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “Whatever can be done now should be done, and the rest will be completed by the elected government. The interim government is wasting time without announcing a clear roadmap.”
Those concerned said that several political parties do not agree with the recommendations on reform. BNP has said that the party agrees with 20 of the 23 recommendations on judicial reform. Agrees and partially agrees with 19 of the 20 recommendations on ACC reform. The party agrees with more than half of the 26 proposals for public administration reform, while it has comments on the rest. And BNP has agreed to nominate one of the two deputy speakers in parliament from the opposition.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami has submitted its opinion to the National Consensus Commission on important recommendations of the five reform commissions. In the opinion, the party has highlighted its position in favor of proportional representation in elections. On the other hand, the NCP has agreed with 113 of the 166 recommendations proposed for reform.
Of the 166 questionnaires that the National Consensus Commission for State Reforms sent to political parties, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has agreed with 120. Out of the 70 proposals related to constitutional reform, the LDP agrees with 51, disagrees with 16, partially agrees with one, and considers two proposals unclear. Out of 23 proposals related to the judiciary, it agrees with 22 and partially agrees with one, and agrees with all 20 proposals related to anti-corruption. Out of 26 proposals related to public administration, it agrees with 11 and disagrees with 15. Out of the 27 proposals for electoral reforms, the party has agreed to 16 and disagreed with 11, the party has informed the commission.
Those concerned said that BNP has been repeatedly demanding that the government announce a specific roadmap for the 13th national parliament election. The party wants to hold the election by December after making rational reforms. The top level of BNP has also instructed party leaders and activists to prepare accordingly, assuming the national election in December.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has given a message to leaders and activists to mentally prepare, stating that the time for the national election is approaching. Like-minded parties are expressing their agreement with BNP's demands. They are talking about holding the election by December in line with BNP's demands. The 12-party alliance led by Jatiya Party (Jafar) Mustafa Jamal Haider, the Nationalist Like-minded Alliance led by Dr. Fariduzzaman Farhad, and several other political parties and alliances. Apart from this, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and the Left Democratic Alliance led by the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) are also in favor of holding the national election by December.
When asked, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “Reform is an ongoing process. Whatever can be done now should be done. The rest will be completed by the elected government. The current interim government is just wasting time by talking about reforms and justice. They are still not giving a clear roadmap for the elections, and are not even making it clear whether the elections will be held in December or June of the year.”
He said, “The interim government must quickly announce the roadmap for the elections.”
Dr. Fariduzzaman Farhad, convener of the Nationalist Like-Minded Alliance, a political party that is a alliance in the BNP movement, said, “Interim government chief Dr Yunus is doing a good job. We support him. But an unelected government cannot remain in power indefinitely. The people of the country have not been able to vote for 16 years. The Sheikh Hasina government has destroyed the voting system. The current government should announce a clear roadmap for the elections.”
Meanwhile, the positions of Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP are almost different on the issue of election timing and reforms. Both parties demand that national elections be held after making fundamental reforms.
Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said at a rally in Lalmonirhat on Saturday that national elections should be held after ensuring reforms and justice. Before the national elections, the conditions for elections, including basic reforms and coexistence, must be met. Otherwise, God knows best whether the election commitment will be valid or not.
NCP Joint Member Secretary Mushfiq Us Salehin said that elections will not be acceptable without reforms. Whether NCP will participate in those elections or not will also be under consideration. Visible justice, a roadmap for justice, reforms and the July Charter must be implemented before the elections.
In addition, several other political parties, including the Islami Andolan Bangladesh, a section of the Islamic Unity Alliance, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), and others, are demanding elections after completing reforms.
Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque said that it is embarrassing if the demand for elections is raised even after the mass uprising. The transfer of power to elected representatives through democratic reforms and elections will be the biggest success of the interim government. There is no chance of holding the genocide trial and reform against the election. “Because, political parties have a clear commitment to the people regarding the trial and reform of the crime.”
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
