Anxiety and apprehension are mounting across country's political landscape, as major parties and their allies express deepening concerns over the uncertainty surrounding the national parliamentary elections.
Top leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and like-minded political groups have criticized the government’s role in not announcing a clear election roadmap, fueling fears that polls may be delayed beyond public expectations.
On the other hand, each of the advisers is saying different things. Some are also expressing their desire to remain in power for the next five years. The new political party NCP wants to prolong the elections on the pretext of reforms. The role of one or two other parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, is also unclear.
Many are also skeptical about whether the elections will be held at all. Everyone is worried and anxious about the upcoming national elections. Again, some are also smelling domestic and foreign conspiracies about the elections.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman warned supporters that “an invisible opponent” is increasingly becoming visible, alleging that domestic and foreign conspiracies are brewing against the party, the electoral process, and democracy itself. Speaking to party workers, Tarique urged vigilance and strategic action.
On April 16, another high-level delegation of BNP met with the Chief Adviser for the second time on the election issue. In the meeting, they asked for the date and roadmap for the national elections. But Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus did not say anything clearly in this meeting.
He (Dr Muhammad Yunus) said that the elections will be held between December (2025) and June (2026). The Chief Advisor also did not say anything about announcing a clear roadmap for the elections. Since that meeting, the leaders have been considering the government's role in the elections as mysterious.
Meanwhile, BNP and like-minded party leaders fear that various domestic and foreign conspiracies are going on regarding the national parliament elections. They alleged that political parties that do not get more than 5 to 10 percent of the votes in free and fair elections are the ones who want to prolong the elections.
They said that what is the need for those who have enjoyed power during the unelected government's tenure? It is better for them if there is no election. Their period of enjoyment in power will be prolonged.
Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP's national standing committee and former mayor of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation, said, “I do not see any signs of holding elections quickly. The Election Commission will hold elections as per the people's expectations. Dr Muhammad Yunus said that the elections will be held in June, if not in December. This is what has put us in an embarrassing situation. Once he said December, again he said June. I don't see any signs of holding the election soon.”
He also said, “Some parties have started saying that if this doesn't happen, there won't be an election, if that doesn't happen, there won't be an election. If they keep saying these things, how will the election be held? Some others are threatening, ‘We won't go to the election.’ But there is no point in doing these things. We hope that the election will be held on time, even if it is not very soon, it will be held close to the people's expectations. No kind of confusion can be created about the election.”
Another member of the party's national standing committee, Salahuddin Ahmed, said, “We have all kinds of concerns and worries about the national parliament election. We had a meeting with the chief adviser on April 16. We were not satisfied with it. He had earlier said that the election would be held in December. The matter will be clarified through the roadmap. But even after two months, the matter has not been clarified by him or the government.”
“Now it is being said that the elections will be held between December and June. All these talks of theirs are creating doubts among everyone. Even then, we hope that the Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus will soon clarify the matter and give relief to the people. Meanwhile, we are continuing discussions with the political parties that are like-minded and partners in the simultaneous movement. Then we will decide our strategy and take the next step.”
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “The interim government is delaying the elections.”
He said, “This government is the product of the democratic struggle. It has to be accountable in every aspect. It has to be accountable to the people.”
Addressing the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Rizvi said, “All the people who love democracy have supported you. But the interim government has no basis constitutionally or legally. Despite this, people are supporting you to deliver a free, fair, impartial and acceptable election. So, work according to the expectations of the people. Complete the election-related reforms and arrange for the national election by next December.”
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD President ASM Abdur Rob has called on the interim government, saying, “It is necessary to announce a roadmap quickly on the issue of fundamental reforms in state politics and national elections.”
He said, “Reforms and elections are complementary, so a comprehensive roadmap of reforms and elections is needed.”
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Dr Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikram said, ‘The interim government has wasted a lot of time in the name of reform. We had said to publish and implement ordinances on the issues that will be agreed upon with the political parties. But instead of doing that, this government is wasting time on “show-off” its performance. We have given our opinion on behalf of the political parties regarding the elections a long time ago.”
“We have said to hold the elections in December. Publish it in the form of a roadmap with a specific date for the elections. So that all the fears, anxieties, and worries created in the minds of the people are removed. But instead of doing that, the government is creating a haze by talking about elections once in December and again in June. This haze must be cleared immediately.”
Dr AZM Fariduzzaman Farhad, chairman of the National People's Party said, “If elections are not held by December, it will not be possible even in June. After December, the Holy Ramadan, SSC, HSC exams will be held in phases. After that, there is a fear of many natural disasters in our country. Since the government has not said anything clear about the elections, the public's fear is increasing. Anxiety is increasing. In addition, each advisor to the government is saying different things about the elections. The government should dispel the public's fears by announcing a clear roadmap regarding when the elections will be held.”
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
