Politics
EC in the soup as major parties differ: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Monday said the commission is facing a dilemma because of contrasting stances of the major political parties over the next parliamentary polls.
"I am in difficulty in regard to the election. One big party is saying that it will not participate. Another party is saying that there will be elections. There is a dilemma in the political environment," he said.
He made this comment at a dialogue with the Bangladesh Islamic Front at Nirbachan Karjalay.
He once again vowed to hold free and peaceful elections by any means. If necessary, he said, he will leave the responsibility and make the way easier.
"We want to have an acceptable election and the formation of a beautiful parliament and government. What BNP is demanding, they have to gain it through dialogue and movement. Because the constitution is involved in it," he added
The CEC said there should be a representative government. There is no other choice. If the election is not a genuine election, “we will never go for staging a drama in the name of vote.”
Read: No more caretaker government in Bangladesh: Law Minister
"We have no affection or dislike (for any party). We have only one job: People should be allowed to exercise their right to vote. We will definitely try to take legal action if voters are prevented from voting in villages, towns and cities," he warned.
Habibul said that the Election Commission has a lot of powers. In the past it may not have been able to fully exercise that power for some reasons. “But we will try to implement it.”
The process of bringing various ministries under the EC during elections is complex. There are constitutional issues involved. All political parties can have a dialogue on this among themselves, he explained.
He said that if BNP can achieve what it wants after reaching agreement with Awami League, then the EC cannot have any objection.
"We want acceptable elections. We want to create favorable environment and level playing field,” he added.
An 11-member delegation led by Chairman of Bangladesh Islami Front Allama Mohammad Abdul Mannan participated in the dialogue with the EC.
The Election Commissioners and senior officers also participated in it.
Islami Front’s general secretary MA Matin presented nine written proposals to the EC.
This includes bringing the local government, public administration, home, defense and finance ministries under the Election Commission in a constitutional manner during elections.
Party General Secretary MA Matin said that caretaker government system can never be a permanent system. An independent EC can offer the nation free and fair elections. However, questions have been raised about the powers of the EC.
AL wants competitive elections: Obaidul Quader
General Secretary of Awami League Obaidul Quader said Awami League wants competitive elections with the participation of all political parties.
"Awami League does not want uncontested elections, it wants competitive elections with the participation of all political parties," he said.
Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader said this to the journalists after an exchange meeting with the concerned officers and employees at the head office of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation - BRTC this morning.
He said Awami League never wants to score goals in an empty field.
The Election Commission is sitting in dialogue with the registered political parties from today, the dialogue of the Election Commission will continue till July 31 while the delegation of 10 members of Awami League will participate in the dialogue with the commission, said the general secretary of Awami League.
He also said that it is the duty of patriotism of all political parties to participate in this dialogue called by the Election Commission. Those who want to change the government through elections should participate in the elections.
Expecting that every registered political party will participate in the dialogue of the Election Commission, Obaidul Quader said that we want to see this election as a competitive one. That's why a free, impartial and credible election will be held with the participation of all registered parties.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already made a lot of improvements in the electoral system to further improve the electoral system.
Read: EC begins talks with political parties
Obaidul Quader hoped that the current system will also be conducive to a fair, free and impartial election.
Saying 'The election will be held under the current government' - Obaidul Quader said If the election commission is neutral, then the election will be free and neutral, there will be no involvement of the government here. The government will only support the commission.
He said that no agency or office of the government related to the election will run under the direction of the government during the election. It will run under the Election Commission.
Awami League General Secretary hoped that the registered political parties would participate and play their responsible role in the political dialogue called by the Election Commission.
Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader attended an exchange meeting with BRTC officials.
Meanwhile, Road Transport and Highways Department Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Noori and BRTC Chairman Md Tajul Islam and other officials were present.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that BRTC has returned to the profit trend - this trend should be continued.
EC begins talks with political parties
The Election Commission (EC) Sunday has started its dialogue with the registered political parties ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
The Nationalist Democratic Movement, Bangladesh Nationalist Front, Bangladesh Congress and Bangladesh Muslim League joined the talks Sunday as part of a dialogue series.
The EC commissioners and secretary also joined the meeting.
The commission will continue the dialogues till July 31, the EC officials said.
The Bangladesh Islamic Front, Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijot, Khilafat Majlish and Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party are scheduled to join the dialogue Monday.
The commission invited the Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Islamic Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal to talks Tuesday.
The EC is scheduled to sit with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Ganatantri Party and Bangladesh National Awami Party Wednesday.
However, the BNP already said it would not join the talks.
The EC will have talks with the Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Gano Front the next day.
The Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Jatiya Party (JP), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Islamic Front Bangladesh are scheduled to join the EC dialogue on July 24 and the Bangladesh Muslim League, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Liberal Democratic Party on July 25.
Also, the commission invited the Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and National People's Party to its dialogue on July 26.
The Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Zaker Party and Krishak Sramik Janata League were invited to talks on July 27.
The commission is also scheduled to hold dialogues with the Gano Forum, Bangladesh National Awami Party and Communist Party of Bangladesh on July 28.
The Awami League and Jatiya Party are scheduled to hold talks with the EC on July 31.
Earlier, the commission had invited 39 political parties registered with it to talks on the use of electronic voting machines; 28 political parties responded to the commission's invitations while 11 parties, including the BNP, rejected it.
BNP hopeful of ‘restoration’ of democracy, says Fakhrul
Accusing the government of shrinking the democratic space for political parties, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday sounded hopeful of restoring democracy this time with the united efforts of the people.
“Political parties are not given the minimum democratic space. Even, we’re being prevented by police from holding a Milad mahfil. We were also not allowed to hold doa mahfil in Munshiganj yesterday (Saturday). All this hypocrisy by the government does not make any sense,” he said.
Talking to reporters at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said the people can understand the hypocrisy of the government. “So, we want to hold the light of hope that the people of this country will definitely restore democracy.”
He said though Awami League is in the driving seat, it did not keep any scope for resolving the country’s political crisis through discussions. “She (Prime Minister) has to do everything when there is a major political crisis in the country. Most of the political parties are saying that they don't want to go to the election under a partisan government.”
About the communal attack on the Hindu community in Narail over a Facebook post allegedly belittling Islam, Fakhrul said, "We strongly condemn and protest this incident. We feel that communalism is not desirable in the country in any way and it never brings anything good to the country. It’s also unfair”
Read: Don’t run away from election, CEC urges the political parties
He also urged everyone not to make any comment or post any status on social media that hurts the religious sentiments of people of other communities.
The BNP leader alleged that the Narail incident took place due to the government's failure. “We think it is a total failure of the government. The communal incidents marked a rise during the tenure of the current government.
Voicing his concern about the country’s economic situation, he said indulging in corruption is Awami League’s basic characteristic. “Whenever they come to power, they indulge in extreme corruption.”
Fakhrul said the government has been implementing mega projects by borrowing money but commodity prices and inflation are increasing.
He also questioned the justification of some mega projects when the country’s 42 per cent of people are living below the poverty line and 21 per cent of people in many areas cannot manage two meals a day.
About his recent meetings with newly appointed UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis and European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, Fakhrul said they just talked about the bilateral issues relating to the interests of the people of Bangladesh.
No EC can hold credible polls with AL in power: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said joining talks with the current Election Commission (EC) is pointless since no commission can hold a neutral credible election if Awami League stays in power.
“Our experience in the last two elections is that if Awami League stays in power, no commission can conduct a credible and impartial election,” he said.
Talking to reporters at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said after boycotting the 2014 polls, they took part in the 2018 election based on the prime minister’s promises to hold an acceptable election.
“But it was seen that the ballots were stuffed the night before the voting day. Considering these things, how do you (journalists) expect BNP to participate in a dialogue with the Election Commission? What will EC do? They have no power to do anything,” he said.
Read:Don’t run away from election, CEC urges the political parties Don’t run away from election, CEC urges the political parties
Fakhrul said whether or not the election will be fair and acceptable depends on the nature of the election-time government. “We have already seen that elections would not be fair if Sheikh Hasina remains the prime minister. So what will happen whether we join the EC’s talks or not?
The BNP leader's comments came as the EC began talks with the registered political parties on Sunday morning to discuss issues relating to the 12th general election.
Fakhrul said the people do not want to see any election under the Election Commission or under the current government.
“That is why we are not making any comment on any dialogue, discussion or EVM issue of this commission. Because we don't believe that there can be a fair election under the current Election Commission. If there is no change in the government and if an impartial government does not come, there will be no election in this country,” he said.
The BNP leader said the main crisis of the country is that there is no democracy here. “Election is the first door for democracy. But the electoral system of Bangladesh has been completely destroyed by Awami League.”
He said four credible national elections were held in the country under the caretaker governments, but Awami League annulled the system only to hang onto power forever by holding polls under them.
The BNP leader said it is fact that national elections are held under the partisan government in many countries that have strong democratic institutions and that have long been practising democracy.
“But our political culture is that one political party does not trust another one in our country. Awami League itself has proved in the previous polls that there can be no acceptable election under a partisan government. They even forcibly rigged the local government elections.”
No more caretaker government in Bangladesh: Law Minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said that as the highest court of the country has declared caretaker government system illegal, there won’t be any such government in the country before the next general elections.
The minister added that the government will abide by this decision because it believes in the rule of law.
The minister was speaking to journalists after attending an event titled ‘National Stakeholder Consultation on Institutional of Paralegal Approach’ at a city hotel.
“The Election Commission has been established following laws of the land to conduct elections. The current commission is capable of holding a free and fair election. So there won’t be any need of anything else,” said Anisul.
Read: Law Minister contracts Covid-19
Anisul reiterated that elections are held under partisan governments all over the world. Same will happen in Bangladesh too.
The minister hoped that all the political parties will join the elections that will be held under the current government.
Replying to a question, Anisul said that if any leader or activist from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is in jail for political reasons, he/she will be freed. But this won’t be the case for those who are convicted in cases.
“In the second scenario, the detainees will need the court’s help to come out of jail,” Anisul said.
Also read: Cases under DSA decline: Law Minister
The event was presided over by Md Golam Sarwar, Secretary of Law and Justice Division. Ambassador of European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, High Commissioner of the UK to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson and Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh Achim Troster, among others, spoke in the event.
BNP getting ready to oust govt, not to join polls under Hasina: Abbas
BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Saturday said their party is preparing for ousting the Awami League government, not for joining the national election under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“BNP is not getting ready for an election under Sheikh Hasina. Rather, we are preparing for ensuring the fall of this government,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also said their party will no longer let the government continue its misrule and repressive acts.
Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal organised the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the killing of its Jashore unit leader Badiuzzaman Dhani.
Read: BNP conspires to seize state power, says Obaidul Quader
Badiuzzaman Dhani, 42, senior vice president of Jashore District Jubo Dal was hacked to death by miscreants in Jashore town on July 12.
Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, said the government is trying to hush up the killers of Badiuzzaman by describing his murder as an outcome of intra-party conflicts.
“We would like to make it clear that this is not an internal feud. Awami League has carried out this murder incident to scare BNP workers,” he said.
“We don’t want to see any more killing. This time we’ll come up with resistance and protest. This government won’t be spared anymore,” the BNP leader said.
BNP conspires to seize state power, says Obaidul Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday accused opposition BNP of hatching conspiracy to take over state power instead of pursuing the politics of people’s welfare and win their votes.
In a statement the AL leader slammed BNP for misleading the friendly foreign countries with misinformation to gain petty political interests.
“BNP is also misleading the people through propaganda,” he said.
Qauder, also the Road Transport and Bridges minister, said BNP has become pariah party after being rejected repeatedly by the people. “The people never responded to the BNP's call. Even then, the BNP leaders are obsessed with daydreams,” he said.
The AL general secretary also protested and condemned BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for constantly making ‘’misleading and ill-motivated statements.”
He said BNP secretary general has recently given a statement to the media blaming Awami League for the murder of Jashore Jubo Dal leader. But BNP men were involved in the killing according the primary investigation and the case statement filed by the plaintiff, he added.
Qauder said BNP terrorists committed this murder due to their internal feuding to establish dominance in the party.
He denounced Fakhrul’s comment that the AL has established a fascist regime and politics in this country.
“The journey of fascism started in this country with military dictator Ziaur Rahman, who seized the state power in an illegal and unconstitutional way through assassinations, coups and conspiracies”, said Qauder.
He said Bangladesh Awami League is determined to establish the rule of law. The people are the only source of strength for the Awami League. “Today, the people of this country are united under the leadership of successful statesman Sheikh Hasina on the journey of development, progress and prosperity,” he added.
The AL leader called upon the BNP leaders to come to the path of welfare politics shunning the fascist mentality.
Bangladesh can become bankrupt due to debt liability: GM Quader
Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader on Friday feared that the debt burden can make Bangladesh bankrupt.
“The country's debt is 16 lakh crore. The situation of the country can be dire when this loan will have to be repaid with interest in the future,” he said.
GM Quader was addressing a public rally at Jurain Railway Gate in the capital organised by Jatiya Party’s Shyampur and Kadamatli thana unit’s marking the third death anniversary of party founder HM Ershad.
Stating that there are many similarities between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, he said Sri Lanka's tourism sector has been affected during the corona crisis.
“But Sri Lanka has not gone bankrupt after ten years of civil war. It has become bankrupt just because of debt burden. Again, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have the same political reality. That’s why Bangladesh can face a dire situation like Sri Lanka,” the Jatiya Party chief observed.
He alleged that there is no accountability anywhere in Bangladesh like in Sri Lanka.
“The Liberation War was waged not to see such a country. The heroic martyrs sacrificed their lives not to get a king in the country. The Liberation War was waged to get the representatives of the people. But unfortunately we have got the king of the people,” Quader viewed.
Pointing at the budget for the fiscal year 2022-23, he said it was a debt-dependent document. “There’s no allocation in the budget for working people and for reducing unemployment,” he said.
The Jatiya Party chief also said the prices of essential items are increasing, but the government has no focus on the issue.
He urged the government to take steps for keeping the prices of the essentials at a tolerable level, even by giving subsidies.
The JP leader alleged that thousands of crores of taka are being siphoned off abroad from the country through mega projects.
“We don't want any more mega projects. We want people to eat and live and get good treatment easily at hospitals,” he said.
AL to observe Hasina's imprisonment anniversary on Saturday
Ruling party Awami League will observe the anniversary of its president, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, being imprisoned under the military-backed caretaker regime in 2007 on Saturday.
AL and its associate bodies observe the day as the 'Imprisonment Day of Sheikh Hasina'.
The Awami League president was arrested from her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi in the city on July 16, 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government, which assumed power in the political changeover of 1/11 in 2007.
Dhaka City North AL will organize a discussion at 11 am at the party's central office in the city's Bangabandhu Avenue.
AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will address the discussion virtually as the chief guest with Dhaka city south AL President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman in the chair.
General secretary of the North unit SM Mannan Kochi will conduct the session.
AL and its associate bodies have taken various programmes, including discussions and milad and doa mahfils, to observe the day, maintaining the health guidelines and social distancing.
Obaidul Quader in a statement called upon the countrymen to pray to Almighty Allah for healthy and long life of Sheikh Hasina, maintaining the health protocols.
He simultaneously urged all to extend cooperation to the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being imbued with the spirit of Liberation War and democratic values by lighting up the flame of patriotism in the minds of Bangalees and creating a shield to overcome the crisis.
AL President Sheikh Hasina was released from the special sub-jail set up on the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) Building on June 11 in 2008 after remaining captive there for nearly 11 months.