Bangladesh News

The grand electoral alliance led by Awami League (AL) yesterday announced that they will boycott and resist any election under the current poll schedule since in their view prerequisites for a free and fair election have not been fulfilled.
In defence of the stance, AL President Sheikh Hasina at a grand rally in the capital yesterday said the atmosphere for a fair election has yet to come to existence, an acceptable voter list has not been prepared, controversial men are still dominating the Election Commission (EC), the administration is still politicised, and the caretaker government has failed to perform neutrally.

“We want a free and fair election. The people will not allow holding of an election designed in line with a blueprint provided by BNP-Jamaat-led alliance…any attempt to hold a unilateral election will be resisted,” said Hasina, the top-most leader of AL-led 14-party coalition, adding, “We want a response within 24 hours whether an atmosphere conducive to holding a free and fair election will be created.”

As part of resisting an election under the current schedule, Hasina’s grand alliance also announced a countrywide dawn to dusk hartal scheduled for December 21, the last date for filing nomination papers for the ninth parliamentary election, to be held on January 22 according to the current poll schedule.

Hasina urged the people of the country to make the December 21 hartal a success and to continue agitating to protect the people’s right to vote. “Inshallah (may Allah be willing), the people will clinch victory!” she said prompting thunderous applause from the participants in the mammoth rally.

In a significant political polarisation ahead of the polls, AL-led 14-party from the grand rally in Paltan Maidan launched the largest ever political alliance since independence with Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Zaker Party, a faction of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), Islami Oikya Front Bangladesh, and Tariqat Federation — three days ahead of the deadline for filing nominations for the upcoming election.

Top leaders of the allies of 14-party coalition — JP Chairman HM Ershad and LDP President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury — also addressed the rally and announced that they will also boycott and resist any election under the current schedule.

“We have formed the grand alliance to establish the people’s right to universal franchise and to safeguard the democratic process as well,” Hasina said urging her alliance’s leaders and activists to join the ongoing movement ‘for ensuring a free and fair election’ through realising their electoral demands set as preconditions for their participation in the election.

The AL chief categorically said, “Our stance is very clear — the voter list must be updated and it will have to be displayed across the country allowing people to examine his or her name on the list before printing it. After completing the task, a new election schedule will have to be announced.”

Hasina asked her alliance activists to sue election officials in their respective constituencies if the voter list is not shown on demand.

About recasting the EC, the AL chief said the EC must be reconstituted in line with the package proposal of the council of advisers. “Controversial men in the Election Commission including SM Zakaria and Modabbir Hossain Chowhdury must go, 345 upazila election officers recruited by the BNP-Jammat-led government have to be withdrawn from election duties, and the civil and police administration must be depoliticised,” she demanded.

“The present Election Commission made all arrangements for rigging the next election through appointing 345 partisan election officers and by creating a flawed voter list,” she alleged.

Accusing President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed of designing an election in line with a blue print provided by BNP-Jamaat-led alliance, Hasina said Iajuddin assumed the office of chief adviser violating the constitution and now he is using the constitutional provision of holding an election within 90 days of dissolution of the last parliament as an excuse for rigging the polls.

“Which is more important? The people’s constitutional right or a 90-day constitutional obligation?” she questioned before coming up with a reply herself, “Of course the constitutional right of the people is more important, as the people are the sovereign!”

Hasina also demanded introduction of transparent ballot boxes and voter ID cards.

Referring to the statement and remarks made by the UN, European Union and donor agencies, who urged the caretaker government to create a level playing field for the election, Hasina said, “Iajuddin failed to perform neutrally and his failure has been acknowledged universally. Iajuddin desecrated the constitution and he must go making way for a neutral person to assume the office of chief adviser.”

Hasina categorically demanded implementation of the package proposal finalised by the council of advisers for ending the political impasse.

She also blasted Iajuddin for sudden deployment of the armed forces. “The armed forces are the asset of our country. Their responsibilities are to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty. Now the president is saying that they will take rest,” Hasina said asking, “Was the situation so grave that the armed forces needed to be deployed?”

“It is not their task to safe guard the thieves and corruptionists of the immediate past government,” Hasina quipped.

The AL chief demanded arrests of those ‘corruptionists and thieves’, terming them ‘enemy of the people’.

She also urged the officials of the civil administration and members of the law enforcement agencies not to assist in any move designed to hold a rigged election.

The AL chief, also a former prime minister, assured the ralliers that the wealth and money ‘looted by the immediate past government’s goons’ will be returned to the people if her alliance is voted to power.

Senior leaders of AL, 14-party coalition, JP, IOJ, and other allied parties also spoke.