By Ali Hassan

The last three National Elections in Bangladesh were remained very important in the history of Bangladesh and theses elections affected Bangladesh deeply as well. The two elections in 2014 and 2018 were so criticized at home and abroad because they created political unrest in country which later became a question mark to the integrity of the state and democracy in Bangladesh. The reason of such situation in the state was probably, elections under an elected government. Again not learning the lesson from previous elections and political situation in Bangladesh other general elections have been decided initially to hold in 2023 under the current ruling party Awami League according to the constitution. So, the same question has been raised about the fairness of the upcoming 2023 National Election. This election going to be definitely controversial like in 2014 and 2018 if the recent past history of elections in Bangladesh has been repeated in forth coming elections, so in order to remove the controversial debate, the ruling government passed a law to form an Election Commission at the beginning of the year, which is a miracle in the 50-years of history of Bangladesh.

According to the law on the formation of the Election Commission, a new Election Commission has already been formed. Its chief is Kazi Habibul Awal. He is a retired secretary. Now the task of this Election Commission is very tough and challenging in order to bring back democracy and conduct fair elections in Bangladesh.  Although the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP thinks fair elections are not possible without a caretaker government.  Moreover referring to the BNP as an election-oriented party, the Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir revealed that they believe in elections and want to go to that election, they need fair, neutral and acceptable elections. According to the vision of the Akbar Ali Khan, an adviser to the former caretaker government, if the election were held under a political government, the executive branch could not go beyond the direction of the government power. Therefore, in the current situation in Bangladesh, the Election Commission alone can’t hold free, fair and neutral elections.

The newly formed Kazi Habibul Awal Commission is facing a crisis of fairness due to the bias of the last two Election Commissions. The new Election Commission has some work to do to overcome the crisis of fairness. First, to take lessons from the last disputed elections and preparation for fair elections accordingly. Secondly, make everyone in the Election Commission to work beyond the party affiliation and finally, strict enforcement of existing election laws. 

Furthermore in Bangladesh, a new third force Seven Parties and groups which are the, Nagarik Oikya, the Biplabi Workers party, the Gana Adhikar Parishad, the Bhashani Anusari Parishad, the Rashtra Sanskar Andolan the Gana Sanhati Andolan and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. (IPA Service) who have recently launched a new formation called the Ganatantra Mancha (GM), meaning ‘Democracy Forum’, has emerged on the political scene, even as the ruling Awami League (AL) and the chief Opposition outfit Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) bitterly debate pre-election administrative arrangements.  In forthcoming elections , however, most such groups end up supporting one or the other bigger parties, in power or opposition as there are two major parties exist in Bangladesh, the ruling party,  Awami League and the opposition , Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP). For instance, as the Jukta Front (United Front) was the third formation in the fray V In 2018 elections. However, as the AL won, JF candidates mostly joined the AL, while a few went over to the BNP.

In the upcoming elections this time, GM activists are trying hard to establish their footprint and remain greatly influential in elections. They have also organized some protest rallies over various issues. GM spokesmen, in alignment with the BNP and other opposition parties, have demanded that the 2023 Parliamentary elections be held under a neutral caretaker government, under international observation. They oppose the ‘anti-people policies of the ruling AL Government’ and have called for its resignation. In common with civil rights groups and critics of the Government, they hold the ruling party responsible for the steady erosion of democratic norms in Bangladesh politics, rising corruption, nepotism and the ruthless suppression of opposition activities, through the misuse of police and other agencies.

The BNP and opposition parties have welcomed the new formation. Senior BNP leader, Mr. Nazrulislam Khan, expressing his satisfaction over the demands raised by the GM. They said they were quite in line with the general opposition stand on most issues. The major demand was the conduct of the scheduled elections. There was no hope of fair elections if they were held during the tenure of the Awami League. There must be a new neutral caretaker administration in charge, guided by the Election Commission, to conduct and oversee the general elections, in the presence of international observers.

It has been a consistent stand of the BNP and allied parties that the last 2018 elections were heavily rigged by armed Awami league activists, helped by the police and the administration. The AL had won a stunning 287 out of 298 seats (total seats 300). Again, earlier in 2014 polls 153 opposition candidates boycotted the polls, accusing the AL of manipulating results. Such developments and the resultant controversies had hurt the image of the Al in many international fora and generally lowered the country’s prestige and its claims as a functioning democracy.

As the decks are being cleared for the 2023 polls, the AL insists that most allegations were exaggerated and motivated and the 2018 polls were by and large fair. The desperate opposition, fearing its eventual defeat, had launched a carefully orchestrated smear campaign long before the polls were held. And it has been no different in 2022 so far either. For the record, the composition of the GM is interesting in that observers see in it an omnibus coalition of Leftist, liberal, centrist and even a few conservative, politicians and groups. Some leaders have been known for their activities in the past, when they belonged to other parties. But for the 2023 polls, they have decided to come together and fight for the restoration of democracy, to root out rising corruption and bring about a fairer administration, in Bangladesh.

So for, the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh is being focused by the common people and opposition. The next general elections will portray a clear picture of democracy in Bangladesh if Bangladesh remains successful in conducting fair elections. The people of Bangladesh are getting unite under the umbrella of democracy and well being of state. The autocratic ruling mode in Bangladesh will soon come to an end and the Bangladesh will see the dawn of democracy.