Finally, the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh announced the long waited schedules of 9th parliamentary election along with 3rd Upazila (sub district) poll. On Sunday (November 2) evening, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) announced both of the schedules through a broadcast speech to the nation.
Major political parties including Bangladesh Awami League (AL) reacted positively and said that by this announcement parliamentary election on December 18 is being ensured. On the other hand, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led 4-party alliance members kept mum on the issue, though they were engaged in a series of meeting on the day scheduled declared.
However late Sunday night, a meeting of 4-party alliance with Khaleda Zia decided that they would give their official reaction on the issue after official meeting of alliance that is scheduled for Wednesday (November 5).
AL and 14-party alliance members said that there was a row of confusion about holding parliamentary election in time. By announcing the schedule, EC removed this confusion from the minds of political workers and of course from the peoples psyche. However, the alliance has demanded rescheduling of Upazila election.
Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina also greeted the decision of the Commission. Hasina, who is presently in USA for medical treatment and enjoying parole, has planned to return back on November 6.
Dr. Hussain Zillur Rahman, an advisor of military backed interim government, told to the pressmen that withdrawing barriers from political activities is a legitimate demand and government will remove all fences around political activities after the election schedule announced. As schedule has been announced, easing the knot of the state of emergency is a matter of time and intention of interim government, said Political Analysts of the country.
As of the schedule announced by CEC, parliament election will be held on December 18, last date of the submission of candidature fixed on November 13, scrutiny scheduled for November 16-17, and last date for withdrawal of the candidature is November 24.
Upazila election will be held on December 28, for which the last date of the submission of candidature fixed on November 13, scrutiny scheduled for November 19-20, and last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 27.
Analyst stated that though politicians are arguing for rescheduling the Upazila poll; it will not be a big issue for parliament election. Government and Politicians will be in a common point very soon on this issue, they added.
Earlier there was a big confusion over the parliament election as a writ petition was under process in High Court on the re-demarcation issue of constituencies. As a matter of constitutional bindings, the Election Commission went for re-demarcation of 300 constituencies on the basis of population as of the statistics of latest census. This initiative of EC was challenged by few people and decision from the Court was essential for the Commission to declare the schedule for parliamentary poll.
The announcement came soon after the High Court rejected the petition and open the way for the election commission. The EC was smart enough to take the opportunity promptly and consequence is the election schedule placed to the people on the same day.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon during his visit to Bangladesh has expressed hope that Bangladesh will get back to democracy through a peaceful, impartial and credible election. The Bangladesh Army Chief in his meet with UN head also assured that armed forces of the country will dispense their proper duty in the process of election. That assurance makes the people more confidants about the election, analysts further added.
Now question is stirring up about the role of 4-party alliance, particularly the role of BNP in the election process. Political observers said that, Jamate Islami Bangladesh (JAMAT), the only important ally of BNP, is facing a problem of registration with EC as a political party. That could be an issue for BNP not to comply with the announced schedule. If politicians and the military backed interim government come to an understanding with compromise on the issue of JAMAT, this fundamentalist party will face a tough social obstruction form the freedom fighters and progressives. That social reality could guide BNP to giving less importance on JAMATI pressure.
Observers also hoped that BNP is a party of election which doesn’t avoid the call of any election for many times. With few conditions BNP will join in the election process finally. However, political analysts warned that if the election process jeopardise by any means, by any quarter, people will put them in a harsh consequence.
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