The political clouds over Bangladesh took on a darker hue on Sunday, after Chief Interim Adviser Mohammad Yunus’ meeting with political parties and religious groups produced no consensus on the key point of holding elections.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Khaleda Zia, is clear that elections should be held before December and in no case should the tenure of the interim administration continue without limit.
A report in the Dhaka Tribune quoted Amir Khasru Chowdhary, standing committee member of the BNP, as saying that “The people want change through elections, not at the end of the year but now. We will ask the chief adviser to bring forward the polls.”
He also indirectly alluded to the un-elected nature of the Yunus administration, “If we return to democratic principles and form an accountable government through fair elections, the people will again see hope.”
Prothom Alo quoted BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rehman as saying from London that December elections would be most suitable. Reforms, he said, was a continuous process, and warned that the interim administration must communicate its plans clearly and regularly to the public.
The Jamaat-e-Islami on the other hand, appears solidly behind Yunus although with caveats. Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rehman said, “This (election) requires meaningful dialogue. We wanted two roadmaps, one for reforms and one for elections but none has come. We demand that it be published.”
The National Citizens Party (NCP) that emerged in the wake of the mass uprisings against then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, is insisting that reforms precede elections.
“No election date should be announced before electoral reforms are implemented,” said Nahidul Islam, coordinator the party.
In his view, the current Election Commission is “corrupt and untrustworthy”, and warned that “If the same system that served the previous regime remains, it will only reproduce injustice.”
Nahidul Islam was clear about reforms in the police, judiciary and civil service, pointing out that people must trust the system will deliver for them. Therefore, “Judicial reforms and an electoral roadmap must be announced together.”
