Bangladesh Election 2008

Bangladesh Election 2008 – Possibilities and confusions
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/13/2008
Ask anyone in Bangladesh. What they are looking for on an urgent basis. Politicians will tell you about their priority. They want election by December 2008. While, the remaining major sections of the society will ask for resolving the existing problems. Food shortage, power crisis and rise of religious extremism!If we start believing that the next general election in Bangladesh shall be held by the stipulated time frame as promised by the present interim government, it will be natural to assess the entire process initiated by the government in holding a free and fair poll. Some of the advisors in the government are meeting major political parties in private meetings, which they term as pre-dialogue for creating atmosphere of the real dialogue. On the other hand, some quarters are trying to put pressure on the government to abandon Jamaat-e-Islami and other anti-liberation forces from such dialogue process.Much anticipated general election in Bangladesh was originally scheduled for 21 January 2007, but postponed by two days due to demands by the opposition made in December 2006. They were put back by one day to 22 January, and subsequently postponed for an extended period due to opposition protests and boycott threats.Riots erupted in October 2006 as the government of outgoing Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her Bangladesh National Party was to turn over power to a caretaker government of K M Hasan [former Chief Justcie of the Bangladesh Supreme Court]. At least three people died as thousands of demonstrators gathered on the streets in numerous towns; the opposition objected to Justice Hasan because it felt he was too close to the BNP. President Iajuddin Ahmed became head of the caretaker government instead, but he was also opposed by Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina and her allies, who accused him of favoring Zia. On January 3, 2007, Hasina announced that the Awami League and its allies would boycott the election, but the Election Commission stated that the election would be held regardless of the boycott.From January 4, 2007 until January 7, 2007 public protests were held to reach electoral reform; these protests brought the capital, Dhaka, to a standstill, and led to a state of emergency being declared on January 11, 2007 by Iajuddin Ahmed, who stepped down as chief advisor a few hours later. He also said that the elections would be delayed, and that Fazlul Haque would become acting chief adviser until he appointed a new chief adviser within a few days. Later on the same day, Fakhruddin Ahmed, former governor of Bangladesh Bank was appointed as the new chief adviser.Meanwhile, taking the advantage of massive media presence, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus [founder of Grameen Bank] subsequently announced the foundation of a new party called Citizens' Power. Later he abandoned the idea of entering politics, as he failed to attain support from the people. Rather, such decision of Dr. Yunus of entering politics brought him to numerous criticisms at home and abroad.On April 5 2007, the Bangladesh's chief election official declared that the elections would need to be pushed back at least eighteen months. Subsequently on April 12 Fakhruddin Ahmed, the Chief Advisor, announced in a televised speech to the nation that the next parliamentary elections would be held before the expiry of the year 2008. On July 15, 2007 the Election Commission of Bangladesh published a roadmap for the election, promising a compilation of voter lists by October 2008 and an official election call before the end of that year.As per the latest information provided by Bangladesh Election Commission deadline for registration of political parties is set for June 30, 2008. While, according to this source, printing and distribution of final voter list shall be completed between 18 August – 16 October 2008. It has also categorically mentioned the timeframe for declaration of schedule and holding of general election within 1 June – 31 December 2008.Here is the confusion! According to Election Commission, printing and sistribution of final voter list shall be completed between 18 August – 16 October 2008. Let us try to understand that the entire process will be completed by October 16. In this case, the real process of election, such as declaring poll dates, filling nominations and holding the election etc should take at least 90 days time. So, someone may easily anticipate that holding of general election within 31 December 2008 still remains largely uncertain.The Election Commission source further confirms that till April 7, 2008 voter registration in 323 areas are already completed, while such process is continuing in 50 more areas. If things will move positively, it is not difficult for the EC to complete the process by May end this year. But the main problem shall arise from the point of registering the political parties. As per latest information, none of the major political forces in Bangladesh have applied for such registration, while many are even against this move. It is even alleged that the Election Commission has incorporated a number of clauses in the registration prerequisition, which may stop a large number of political parties from getting registered.Election Commission sources briefing on registration of political parties says, “Registration of political parties is covered by the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (as amended from time to time). That provision is voluntary for the political parties at present. The roles and responsibilities of the political parties taking part in parliamentary elections need to be spelt out clearly. There is a need to ensure practice of democracy within the political parties besides ensuring transparency in their income and expenditure. The Bangladesh Election Commission is going to recommend that the registration of political parties taking part in the parliamentary election be made mandatory. This provision is included in the draft of RPO. A rule name Registration of Political Parties Rules was issued in 2001 which basis call describes procedures. It may be mentioned that before proposing for reforms, the Bangladesh Election Commission reviewed various research papers, documents, press reports and other materials available on this subject. Like RPO, this was also discussed with the stakeholders. The first such meeting was held on 26-04-2007 in the NEC Auditorium with representatives of the civil society organizations, eminent persons etc. Another meeting was held on 23-05-2007 with editors, senior journalists and members of the media. Finally, a series of meeting are underway with the political parties. The draft proposals have been reviewed at length and a number of changes have been made in the meanwhile.”The EC believes that, democratic system is not in practice right within the major political parties in Bangladesh, except Jamaat-e-Islami. Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jatiyo Party are run under the dictatorial decision of Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda Zia and Hussain Muhammed Ershad respectively. Necessary amendments should be made in party’s own constitution before it will become eligible for running in any of the future elections in Bangladesh. But, none of the dictatorial leaders of the major political forces are inclined in accepting such requests from the Bangladesh Election Commission. Unless the parties will abide by this rule, none will get registration with the EC and naturally doors for them in participating in the elections will turn shut. In this case, a major question may come in the minds of all, as to whether the Election Commission may retreat from its position on pre-condition of registration of political parties for participating in future elections.Prime goal of the present interim government in Bangladesh is to ensure free and fair election. But, it is also promising a corruption free country for the 150 million people in the years to come. If we will assess the past track record of all the potential winning parties, it will be clearly understood that none of the potential winning parties are free from the sins of corruption. In this case, would it be wise to believe that before holding any election in Bangladesh, a drastic reform should be first ensured within all political parties? If yes, then the second question is, whether such reform shall be accepted by the heavyweight leaders in those major poltical forces. According to present realities, it is greatly understood that, the parties in question shall never surrender their whims to such electoral precondition set by the Election Commission. In this case, naturally, a general election within the stipulated timeframe is quite uncertain. Once election becomes uncertain, Bangladesh may face some pressure from international community as many of the global powers have already expressed their opinions openly that postponement of the general election in 2008 shall not be accepted anymore. This is certainly a big challenge for the present interim government as well the Election Commission.Finally, the most important point is shall the actions and drives initiated by the present interim government in Dhaka get endorsement from the future democratic government? There is no room to have any doubt that the most important point for the present government is to hand over power to an elected government thus seeing a smooth exit path. Political realities in Bangladesh does not stand positively on this point. Rather, most of the politicians are already in the state of ‘vicdictims’ against the preset interim government. In this case, where is the solution? Further postponement of the election and even enforcing a hardline policy? And, finally, what about resolving the present food and power shortage crisis?