More than a hundred political parties, both registered and unregistered, have called for national elections to be held by December, contradicting recent remarks by Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, who claimed only one party in the country that supports that timeline.
Political leaders and analysts have expressed concern and surprise at Yunus's comments made abroad, with many accusing him of misrepresenting domestic political sentiment and possibly undermining the election process.
Currently, 50 parties are registered with the Election Commission, with the Awami League's registration suspended. Of the remaining 49, almost all have demanded elections be held by December. Additionally, numerous unregistered parties have echoed this demand, emphasizing that restoring democracy and economic stability depends on the timely installation of an elected government.
Most party leaders believe that the people of the country have been deprived of their voting rights and democracy. There is no alternative to elections to restore these voting rights and democracy. The country's political and economic stability can only be achieved through an elected government. There is no alternative to an elected government that is accountable to the people, especially to revive the stagnant business and investment situation.
According to them, everyone has been agitating for a fair election for a long time. Chaos prevails everywhere in the country. The government is unable to control them. As a result, it is the responsibility of this government to transfer power to elected representatives through an election as soon as possible.
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told Bangladesh Pratidin, “I myself have liaised with more than 40 political parties. All of them unanimously support elections by December. They have met the chief adviser and made their demands.”
“Apart from this, several other left-wing and Islamist parties have the same position. After this, I do not understand why a person like the Chief Adviser said such an untrue and unrealistic thing. Only he can tell why he started talking about such things against the BNP after going abroad. However, the countrymen are surprised to hear such things from his mouth,” he added.
Another senior BNP leader, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that parties disconnected from the people oppose timely elections. “Those afraid of facing the public through votes are looking to delay the polls for their own interests,” he said.
LDP President Dr Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikram said, “When I last met the chief adviser, I was still talking about announcing the election and the roadmap.”
Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, “The chief adviser did not say this correctly. 90 percent of the country's parties are in favor of the national election in December or even before. They have made the same demand even after meeting the chief adviser. How could Professor Yunus say such a thing after this? His statement is absolutely wrong.”
Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque said, “Except for two or three parties supporting the government, everyone wants the election by December. Besides, the government has not been able to give a good answer as to why the election should wait until June next year. If the government has the will, it is possible to hold the national election by December. Is there any other reason behind delaying the election. The fear of prolonging power cannot be ruled out.”
Bangladesh Labor Party Chairman Dr. Mustafizur Rahman Iran said, ‘We did not expect such words from Professor Yunus. We want him to understand the language of the people's hearts and hold elections by December and leave honorably. Let the people's elected government take charge in the country.”
Bangladesh Socialist Party (BSD) General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz said, “BNP has demanded elections by December. We are saying that elections are possible by September, October, November. Instead of doing so, smoke is being created in favor of the interim government. This is raising suspicions.”
“If the unelected government is in power for a long time, various crises will intensify,” he added.
Bangladesh JSD President Sharif Nurul Ambia said, “The chief adviser said that he will delay the vote - one party only wants votes in December. We are saying that it is possible to vote not in December, but in November. I have learned that the Election Commission is prepared for that. So delay is not desirable in any way.”
Ruhin Hossain Prince, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), said, “We have been saying from the beginning that the outline of the elections should be given now and the elections should be completed as soon as possible. If it is by December, then there is no problem. But it will not be right to hold the elections after that.”
President of Gono Odhikar Parishad Nurul Haque Nur said, “Except for two or three who are getting benefits from the government and want time to organize their own parties, almost all parties want elections by December. Especially the NCP is in an anti-election position. At the beginning of the interim government, the people had unconditional support for the government's activities. But in the last nine months, people have realized from the government's activities that there will be no stability in the state without an elected government.”
The Gono Forum has demanded elections by December. A party statement on Friday said, “Dr Muhammad Yunus's comment that no other party except one wants national elections by December is incorrect.”
Demanding an immediate announcement of the specific outline of the elections, the party said, “Necessary reforms must be completed and steps must be taken for elections by December.”
Bangladesh Supreme Party's Mohammad Ibrahim Mia said, “It is important to hold elections in December or earlier in the interest of the country and the people. Stability will come to the country only after the elections.”
Nationalist Democratic Movement General Secretary Mominul Amin said, “People who love democracy want elections by December. In that context, we also want elections by December or even better before that.”
Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Barrister Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho said, “We have been saying from the beginning that we want elections by December. The interim government will have to hold elections by this time.”
12-party alliance spokesperson and Bangladesh LDP Chairman Shahadat Hossain Selim said, “Our alliance or party's position is that elections must be held by December.”
Organization Chief of Muktijote Abu Layes Munna said, “There has been no visible progress in reforms, justice, elections in the last nine months. Elections by December are reasonable. Those who are demanding elections after December or later are mostly not registered parties.”
Left Alliance Statement: Left Democratic Alliance Central Executive Council Coordinator, Bangladesh Revolutionary Communist League General Secretary Iqbal Kabir Zahid, CPB President Md. Shah Alam and General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, BSD General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz, BSD Marxist Coordinator Masud Rana, Democratic Revolutionary Party General Secretary Mosherefa Mishu and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Party Executive President Abdul Ali said in a joint statement on Friday, “The statement made by the Chief Adviser – that no one except one party wants elections in December – is a far cry from the truth. His statement is malicious.”
The alliance leaders demanded that the interim government stop all pretexts and plots, quickly implement the necessary electoral reforms and hand over power to the elected government by holding elections by December.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
