Shakhawat Hossain
As the next general polls draw nearer, the Western countries including United States of America (USA), European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) have started pressing the government of Sheikh Hasina for holding free, fair and inclusive polls in Bangladesh for the sake of consolidation of the fundamental basis of democracy in the country.
The international community, which had earlier raised questions about the credibility of 5 January election, are now been reportedly raising the issue afresh for an inclusive election in Bangladesh.
Significantly, the three western powers have categorically asked the government for inclusion of the main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in the next election so that it looks participatory one.
Though they may not have raised their voice for inclusive polls very strongly, the western powers are stressing that the next general election should be a “participatory” and “credible” one. Otherwise, they fear, the political instability in the country will make way to grow terrorism and many other problems in the country.
The next general election is due later this year. The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has indicated it would be held in December, 2018.
AL, BNP gear up for post-Eid face-off
The country’s political arena is abuzz with an imminent face-off between the Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with both parties preparing to hit the streets after Eid-ul-Fitr. In an apparent show of strength ahead of the next general election, which may be held by the end of this year, the BNP is planning to launch a tough anti-government movement after the major religious festival of the Muslims later this month. On the other hand, ruling AL asserted that the government was prepared to resist any attempt to create anarchy by opposition leaders and activists.
On the other hand, ruling Awami League has taken the upcoming city corporation polls as a dress rehearsal leading up to the 11th parliamentary election scheduled for December this year. The elections to Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barishal city corporations will be held on July 30 while the schedule for the national nation will be announced in October. AL leaders and activists said as there is no other election before the national election, the party is considering the upcoming city polls as a dress rehearsal of the next big election.
Within this context, one important issue is overlooked - the government is bending the institutions to such a degree that the lines between political parties, government, judiciary and administrative divisions are increasingly getting blurred, and all the institutions are succumbing to the will of the ruling party. There is no institutional integrity any more.
Finally, it looks like there will be further destruction, and many more lives will be sacrificed before any kind of settlement is achieved, but the biggest fear is that nobody knows when and in what form such a settlement will materialize.
Bangladesh’s journey for democracy is yet to end
With a general election on the horizon, various diplomatic missions are stepping up their efforts to help things run as smoothly as possible. The American, British and Indian ambassadors have all visited the Election Commission in recent months, as has the UN resident co-ordinator for Bangladesh. They have publicly expressed their concerns for the forthcoming election, and implored the commission to take measures to avoid the boycotts and violence that marred the election process last time around. Some in Bangladesh welcome these entreaties, but others in the ruling alliance consider them nothing more than attempts to meddle in their country’s affairs.
Already it’s turning into a rerun of the same old election story as the incumbent Awami League and its allies insist that the election will be held under the current government rather than a non-partisan caretaker regime, a device previously used to take the management of the election out of partisan hands. Meanwhile, the alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) says it will do whatever’s necessary to stop the government from holding an election without giving up full control of the electoral process.
Everyone concerned clearly remembers the turbulence of the 2014 election, when all sorts of political violence boiled over, claiming many innocent lives. But the explanation for why it happened is still a matter of heated debate.
Difficult transition
A non-party caretaker government has been one such important tool that helped people effectuate a peaceful, and one might add fair transition of power, albeit with an exception in 2007 when the caretaker government illegally held on to power for two years.
The ruling Awami League, however, wants to reverse this course. They have amended the constitution to hold the election under an “all party” government, effectively headed by them, to be held on January 5, 2014, which the opposition parties, led by BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party), have summarily rejected.
In the absence of an opposition, 154 of the 300 seats have already been won by ruling members of parliament and their allies, without even one vote being cast, giving them a majority. The media is reporting a number of procedural lapses by the election commission to ensure the election of the 154 MPs would be unopposed. But, the Awami League is unfazed and undaunted. They are steadily cruising on the course they have set, stating that it is a constitutional requirement.
But, the results of the last few local elections quite clearly indicate that the government led by Sheikh Hasina has lost popularity as they have failed to win any significant elections held in the last two years. Even when the opposition boycotted, heavyweights of her party lost to rebels in her own party.
Sheikh Hasina, it seems, isn’t prepared to heed what the opposition or the broader international community are asking. She is also strongly backed by India. BNP is thus powerless to change the course that has been set by the Bangladesh Awami League.
UNHRC calls for free, fair and inclusive polls
Referring to violence and excessive use of force by state actors during the previous general elections, the UN Human Rights Committee insisted that Bangladesh should ensure the safety and security of all voters during elections.
During the 30th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group of the HRC in Geneva, some countries such as USA, Australia and Switzerland have learnt to put stress on ensuring free, fair and inclusive polls in Bangladesh. Besides, Japan has also recommended ensuring a free, fair and inclusive general election, with full participation of all parties, and stepping up efforts to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has also asked the government of Bangladesh to investigate all cases of arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances and excessive use of force, and prosecute and punish perpetrators. The inter-governmental UN body also called for establishing the truth about the fate and whereabouts of victims of the disappearances. Furthermore, ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICED) was stressed.
Several countries, including Austria, Norway, France and the Netherlands, called upon the government to ensure that journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and civil society organisations were able to carry out their activities without fear of surveillance, intimidation, harassment, arrest, prosecution or retribution. Such
recommendations were made at the ‘Universal Periodic Review’ (UPR) organised by the council in Geneva.
Later on, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has adopted the draft report on the human rights review of Bangladesh, with recommendations on taking steps to halt forced disappearance, extra judicial killing, and ensure freedom of expression in media, politics and religion. During the 30th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group of the HRC in Geneva, the UN member states made 251 recommendations. According to the HRC Secretariat and UPR, some 105 delegations took part on the third-cycle review of Bangladesh’s human rights situation. Of the recommendations, 167 were accepted, 60 were noted and the rest would be answered later. Bangladesh will give its final answer no later than the 39th Session of the HRC, slated for September.
EU wants inclusive, credible polls in Bangladesh
The European Union (EU) at a recent meeting held in Dhaka has hoped that the government of Bangladesh will ensure conditions for credible, transparent and inclusive elections.
At the meeting, Bangladesh also reiterated its commitment to provide all-out support to the Election Commission in holding free, fair, and credible election. The issues came up for discussions at the biennial meeting of the Subgroup on Good Governance and Human Rights in the framework of the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement (CA) held in Dhaka, said a joint press statement.
At the outset, the EU delegation appreciated the generous and humane role and action of the people and the government of Bangladesh for hosting the Rohingya people fleeing violence in Myanmar.
Earlier in March, 2018, the European Union high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Federica Maria Mogherini in Brussels and US President Donald Trump’s aide Lisa Curtis during her visit to Bangladesh, UK secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson during his Dhaka visit, and a
delegation of European Union during in their Dhaka visit called for an inclusive election in Bangladesh.
It was reported that the Maria Mogherini raised the issue of the election during a meeting with Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali recently. It was learnt from officials in Dhaka and Brussels that the meeting was arranged on short notice and on Federica’s initiative to discuss the Rohingya crisis. At one point, the political situation came up in the discussion and Federica raised the issue of inclusive polls. She urged the Bangladesh government to conduct inclusive polls and stressed on a free, fair and credible election.
In reply, Bangladesh foreign minister told her that the government is not asking anyone not to participate in the election. He told her that though the BNP boycotted the general election on 5 January 2014, they participated in the local government elections and many BNP candidates won in different levels of the election. He went on to tell her that the election commission is trying its level best to conduct a free, fair and credible election and the government also wants BNP to take part in the election.
The Bangladesh foreign minister also urged her to tell BNP to participate in the next election. In reply, Federica told Mahmud Ali that an EU delegation has urged BNP leaders to participate the next election during their discussion with them.
Lisa Curtis wants to see inclusive elections
On 3 March, 2018, US president Donald Trump’s aide Lisa Curtis called for inclusive polls. She also raised the issue while having meeting with senior Bangladesh government officials including the prime minister’s international affairs adviser Gowher Rizvi, the prime minister’s security adviser Major General (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and Foreign secretary Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. The foreign minister told her that the government is committed to a free, fair, credible and inclusive election and would welcome observers from varies countries including the US. Following a query from Curtis, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Bangladesh is committed to a free, fair and participatory election and that observers from different countries, including the US, are welcome.
- Courtesy — Weekly Holiday/ June 22, 2018 (Slightly abridged)
Conducting a fair election is by no means limited to the election-day performance. Recent trends in our electoral politics suggest a shift towards more subtle manoeuvres and tactics fashioned to eliminate competition well in advance of an election. The EC, therefore, must remain vigilant at all times and exercise the power bestowed upon it without bias. It must ensure that everyone has a fair chance at organising and participating in election-related activities. We welcome the statement by another commissioner that the EC doesn't want to tarnish its image by conducting a questionable election in Gazipur. Hopefully, its “tough action” will be directed as much to those responsible for likely electoral irregularities as to those potentially plotting to change the course of the election. With the national election due later this year, the stakes are high. The EC must address its credibility problem now and deliver on its promises.
