Bangladesh News

Two advisers to the caretaker government yesterday said parliamentary elections without participation of any major political party like the Awami League (AL) will not be accepted either at home or abroad.

They also observed that the controversy surrounding the election schedule could have been avoided if it had been discussed with the political parties and had not been arranged hastily.

“Elections will not be accepted without the participation of a large and major party whether in Bangladesh or, as we have seen from unaccepted elections, in the Philippines and Thailand,” Finance and Planning Adviser Akbar Ali Khan told reporters at his secretariat office yesterday.

Energy Adviser Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury also told reporters, “Examples of general elections not being accepted for non-participation of a major political party like the Awami League can be found in the history of Bangladesh–as we have observed in the elections of 1986 and 1996.”

On the announcement of election schedule on Monday, Akbar Ali said, “It is not mandatory to consult with the advisers about election schedule, but the Election Commission has always consulted with the council of advisers in the past.

“The past chief advisers also unofficially informed other advisers of the election schedule announcement,” he said, adding, “But this time, the advisers were not informed.”

Akbar, however, said, “The Election Commission can still change the election schedule by issuing an executive order.”

Referring to some political parties’ complaint that the environment for the elections is yet to be established, he said, “In the past, the political parties were consulted before announcement of the election schedule. The current controversy over the election schedule could have been avoided if the political parties had been consulted again.”

Asked if the advisers will resign due to the evident disjuncture between them and the chief adviser, Akbar said, “It is easy to resign because we have been given this responsibility for a brief period and this position does not particularly lure us. But, we have accepted this role at a crisis moment, so we will not take any decision that creates further crises.

“But when we will feel that we cannot make further contributions, we can leave without any problem,” he added.

Akbar said they are not sure if the differences between the advisers and the chief adviser have reduced, saying, “A gap still remains.”

Hasan Mashhud regretted that the chief adviser has missed an opportunity to build a mutual understanding by appointing the two new election commissioners without consulting the advisers.

On the appointment of former inspector general of police Mudabbir Hossain as an election commissioner, he said, “It is the president’s responsibility to give appointments. If it is controversial, the president will shoulder the responsibility.”

It is up to the people to judge the appropriateness of Mudabbir’s appointment, he added.