BNP, one of the main political parties of the country, has brought forward the demand for holding the upcoming National Assembly elections in the middle of this year. On Tuesday, the party called upon the interim government, election commission and other political parties to take the initiative of organizing this election between July and August this year. BNP says that they are strongly opposed to holding local elections before Parliament.
The National Citizen Committee, which demands representation of the youth, disagreed with BNP's position on the election question.
On the other hand, various countries and international organizations have started to inquire about the upcoming elections.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir clarified the issue of seeking elections in the middle of this year and said yesterday, 'Elections are possible in the middle of this year, that is, between July and August. For this reason, we want to call on the government, call on the Election Commission and also call on the political parties – we can take measures to hold elections in the middle of this year in the larger interest of the country.' He said this in a press conference at BNP Chairperson's office in Gulshan, Dhaka.
The BNP made this call after several days of continuous review and meeting with like-minded parties, including last Monday, in the National Standing Committee, the party's highest policy-making forum, regarding the ongoing political situation.
Referring to the deadline given by the Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, BNP Secretary General said that the Election Commission has been formed. There has been some stability in the country. The report of the Reforms Commission will come this month. In such a situation, there is no reason to delay the election so much. As the polls get delayed, the political and economic crisis increases.
The Chief Adviser talked to British MP Rupa Haque in Dhaka on January 4 about holding elections in December this year or mid next year. Earlier, in an interview given to the news agency Reuters on September 23, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman said that he will support the completion of important reforms so that elections can be held within the next 18 months.
The idea of the program before the local government elections is held by a section of the political circles. Mirza Fakhrul, stating the party's clear position in this regard, said that there is no question of local government elections before the National Assembly elections.
Dissenting opinion of citizen committee
The National Citizen Committee has a different view on the election. Spokesperson of the organization Samantha Sharmin told Ajker newspaper yesterday, 'We are [আগে] I am talking about the Constituent Assembly election, not the National Assembly election.
The Citizens Committee believes that the Constituent Assembly will rewrite the Constitution. Later the members of the Constituent Assembly will be the members of the Legislative Assembly.
Samantha Sharmin said some reforms of the state are necessary before the local government elections and the national elections. If there is no reform, it cannot be expected that the election will be fair.
He emphasized that the local government elections should be held before the elections to see whether the constitutional institutions including Election Commission, law enforcement and ACC are working properly or not.
What is the Election Commission saying?
Regarding the call of BNP in the mid-term elections of this year, Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said that the commission is preparing for the national elections within the time frame given by the chief adviser. He said this to reporters at the commission yesterday.
Interest from foreigners including India-China
Various countries and international organizations, including two regionally influential countries India and China, are also interested in Bangladesh's elections.
Neighboring country India is waiting for an elected government in Bangladesh to take over, it is clear from the comments of the country's army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi. In response to a question at a press conference in Delhi last Monday, he said, '[দ্বিপক্ষীয়] Relations should be discussed during the elected government.
General Dwivedi's comments about the election of other countries in India's power structure are considered somewhat unusual by the diplomats of Dhaka. His comment has come to the attention of the Bangladesh government, a diplomat said, General Dwivedi may have made the comment out of a general idea. Again he may take advice from the foreign ministry of the country.
Another diplomat said General Dwivedi's comments were probably a little outside his jurisdiction. India's Ministry of External Affairs usually talks about such matters.
European Union Ambassador Michael Miller in Dhaka last Sunday and Chinese Ambassador held a meeting with the Secretary General of BNP last Monday to find out the position of BNP and other stakeholders regarding the elections and reforms.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is starting work in Bangladesh to provide technical assistance to the elections. A delegation of UNDP held a meeting in this regard yesterday at the Election Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Gwen Lewis, the resident coordinator of the organization in Dhaka, told reporters yesterday that the Election Commission had written to the United Nations asking for assistance in the elections. Talking to the stakeholders in this regard, what assistance UNDP can provide will be informed.
