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Download PDF With the political crisis deepening further, most advisers to the caretaker government are doubtful about holding of the next parliamentary election in line with the announced schedule with participation of all major political parties.
The advisers, who had on several occasions discussed ways to face possible problems in case the election is not held within the 90-day tenure of the caretaker government, again started discussing the issue among themselves as their latest effort to resolve the crisis seems to have failed, sources said.
Following a meeting of the council of advisers on Wednesday, Adviser Shafiqual Haque Chowdhury re-initiated moves to resolve the political deadlock through recasting the EC in line with the council’s package proposal but could not come up with any result as of yesterday.
The issue may be raised again at a meeting of the council of advisers today. But a few advisers expressed frustration at the prevailing political situation following the resignation of four advisers.
The Awami League (AL) led 14-party alliance, which has been demanding rescheduling of the election, is likely to announce today its stance for deferring the election until an acceptable voter list is prepared and a level playing field is created.
“The next general election must be held after properly updating the voter list and changing the current election schedule,” AL President Sheikh Hasina said yesterday. She will declare her alliance’s stance from a grand rally in the capital today.
The Jatiya Party, Liberal Democratic Party, and a few small parties echoed the view of the 14-party alliance. If these political parties do not file their nominations within the deadline on December 21, the polls schedule will either have to be re-fixed once again or the election will be held amid boycott by these parties.
The United Nations, European Union and foreign diplomats have also urged the caretaker government to create a level playing field for holding a free and fair election with participation of all major political parties.
The advisory council at the end of the last month discussed options if the Election Commission (EC) fails to conduct the election within 90 days from dissolution of the eighth parliament on October 27.
With the demands for deferring the election mounting, two advisers met Appellate Division Judge Justice Tafazzul Islam on December 4 and discussed if there is any option to defer the polls, sources said.
“The Election Commission can send the matter to the government if it feels that it does not have adequate preparation for holding the election in line with the announced schedule. The matter can be sent to the Supreme Court seeking its opinion,” Adviser Shafiqual told The Daily Star yesterday.
Asked if it is possible to hold the election beyond the constitutionally stipulated 90 days after seeking time from the Supreme Court, EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar, on the other hand, said yesterday, “If the president wants, he can.”
According to article 106 of the constitution, “If at any time it appears to the president that question of law has arisen, or likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to the Appellate Division for consideration and the division may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report its opinion thereon to the president.”
Sarkar said, “If the election cannot be held within 90 days, the president will determine what to do–whether he will refer the matter to the Supreme Court or declare an emergency.”
Talking to The Daily Star on condition of anonymity, another adviser said they should immediately discuss if the EC is really prepared to hold the election as per the current schedule. “If the Election Commission is not prepared, we will have to find a solution,” he said.
Meanwhile, a number of advisers yesterday made efforts to hold a meeting of the advisory council to discuss the latest prevailing political situation ahead of the 14-party alliance’s grand rally. But President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed did not give them time, sources said.
Shafiqual said he re-initiated moves through some senior leaders for a consensus of the chiefs of the two major alliances led by the BNP and AL on recasting of the EC. “But I have received a bag of mixed reaction over the move to reach a consensus on sending two election commissioners on leave of absence,” Shafiqual said.
He, however, hoped a result–either positive or negative–might come by today, even before the 14-party alliance’s grand rally.
Talking to reporters at his office, Shafiqual said they will convince Election Commissioners SM Zakaria and Modabbir Hossain Chowdhury to go on leave only after the 14-party alliance agrees to participate in the election within the 90-day tenure of the caretaker government.
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