Ban on indoor politics may be eased for a period

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Instead of lifting the ban on indoor politics, the caretaker government might relax restrictions on political activities for certain period for each of the 15 political parties chosen for the talks with the Election Commission (EC).

According to the plan, a political party will be allowed to meet at its own forum to discuss the proposed electoral reforms in the lead-up to the scheduled date for talks with the commission, said sources in the EC and the administration.

In defence of the arrangements, they said if the curb on indoor politics is withdrawn for the entire length of the dialogue, the political parties would have some three months’ time and their activities altogether might deteriorate the law and order.

The government does not want to take any risk at this stage by opening up the indoor politics completely, added the sources.

If everything goes according to the plan, the Awami League (AL) and BNP would not get the opportunity to resume politics indoors soon though the talks are scheduled to begin on September 12.

According to the timetable unveiled last Tuesday, the AL has been slotted in for the talks on November 4 and BNP on November 22 while the EC will wrap up the series of discussions on November 29.

After making the announcement of the much-awaited dialogue, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda and two other election commissioners—Muhammed Sohul Hossain and Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain–met Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed.

They informed him about the EC’s plan and preparations, sources said.

The chief adviser assured them of an environment conducive to discussion with the political parties on electoral reforms, sources added.

Law and Information Adviser Mainul Hosein told The Daily Star Thursday that they have talked about the issue after a meeting on law and order situation Wednesday.

“The decision on lifting the ban on indoor politics would be taken at the highest level of the government,” he added.

The military-backed interim administration slapped the ban on indoor politics on March 7 and the law enforcers locked offices of the political parties.

A day after the EC’s announcement for talks with the 15 parties, the advisory committee on law and order at a meeting discussed the current situation.

The government had already planned to lift the ban, and things would have been different had there been no incident at Dhaka University, he told reporters after the meeting.

Meanwhile, senior political leaders seem divided over the necessity for withdrawal of the ban for the talks to take place.

“The Awami League should be prepared for the dialogue even in the case of restrictions not being withdrawn,” AL Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu told reporters yesterday.

“Given that the government won’t cause any obstruction, I see no problem in sitting with the Election Commission with the ban still in force,” he said contradicting many of his party colleagues’ view.

On the other hand, Adviser to the BNP chairperson Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah said it is not possible to take part in the talks with the EC as long as the ban is there.

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