Govt, parties still wide apart on issue

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There is still no visible move to bridge the rising differences between the government and political parties over holding local government elections before parliamentary polls that has triggered a fresh spell of uncertainty about the immediate political scene.

Political analysts believe the situation could have been different had the caretaker government opened its dialogue with the political parties soon after taking the decision on January 10.

But the government is still waiting for the completion of EC’s talks with the parties before opening its dialogue.

Most political parties including the Awami League and BNP have been vehemently opposing the government decision to hold local government elections first.

The Election Commission (EC) is meanwhile preparing to hold polls to a few local government bodies next month in line with the caretaker government’s plan.

Two former advisers to the caretaker government have observed that the situation might destabilise if the EC announces this month the schedules for holding the elections to four city corporations and seven municipalities.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, they urged the caretaker government to open its announced dialogue with political parties without delay to bridge the differences between them.

“The government should not take the unilateral decision to hold polls to local government bodies. It should consult with the political parties to reach a consensus so that the latter cannot blame it,” former adviser Maj Gen (retd) Moinul Hossain Chowdhury said.

“There might be some uneasiness if the political parties continue opposing holding local government elections before parliamentary polls. So, issues should not arise that might obstruct holding of the parliamentary elections in a free and fair manner,” Moinul said.

Echoing the view, former adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said had the caretaker government opened the dialogue in January, things could have been better now.

“It might lead to an alarming situation if the political parties continue opposing the local government polls and the government moves for holding them despite the objections,” he said.

On the political parties’ opposition, former chief election commissioner (CEC) Justice Abdur Rouf said the political parties fear repetition of their past experience as military governments in the past had held local government elections first to ensure sweeping victory of their lackeys in the parliamentary elections.

“The government should give political parties assurance that there is nothing to be feared,” he said.

Both the advisers stressed the need for forging an understanding between the caretaker government and political parties by opening the dialogue without delay.

The Council of Advisers at a meeting on January 10 decided to hold the dialogue with political parties. In his address to the nation on January 12, the chief adviser also pledged to initiate steps soon to open the talks.

The government however later announced that it would begin the dialogue after the EC wraps up its electoral reform talks with the parties.

But it is not clear yet when the EC will be able to wrap up its talks with the parties since the commission could not hold talks with the BNP in over three months because of leadership disputes within the party.

“I do not understand why the government is waiting for the Election Commission to wrap up its talks. Both the talks can be held simultaneously,” Hafiz said.

Moinul said it is already late and the government should discuss the issue of local government elections with the political parties.

“The local government elections are non-political, yet nothing is non-political…Political leaders contest the local government elections,” Moinul said.

Justice Rouf said the caretaker government knows well what the political parties would say if the dialogue is held. “So, the government can clear its stance over the issues being discussed in the political arena,” he said.

During the second round of the electoral reform talks held during February 24-28, most political parties urged the EC not to hold the local government elections before the stalled ninth parliamentary polls.

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