While the Interim Government of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) are preparing for dialogue and the Election Commission (EC) declaring schedule for four City Corporation and nine Municipality elections, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is putting political pressure on the Government by saying that the BNP led 4-party alliance will boycott the election. But Dr. Hussein Zillur Rahman a government advisor, who is in an active role in dialogue process, stated that the interim government is hopeful that BNP would be in the ongoing dialogue in near future.
It should be mentioned that EC has announced to hold the local body elections for four City Corporation and nine municipalities on August 04. The city corporations are Rajshai, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet the Mayoral position of Sylhet was holding by AL, other three was holding by BNP leaders. Election of Chittogang, the port city and Dhaka, the Capital City will be held later.
Present political scenario of Bangladesh is that, for Sheikh Hasina, the President of AL, a 2-month parole has been granted few days ago and now she is in USA for her medical treatment. The legal procedure for release of Khaleda Zia, the suprimo of BNP, from imprisonment was in under process, which is presently going slow as BNP Chairman expressed her unwillingness to go abroad for her medical treatment, though she urged the government to free her two sons and send them abroad for proper treatment. But an advisor of interim government said that the issue is going on. The release of Sheikh Hasina was one of the preconditions for AL to sit with the dialogue. AL is to sit with the government on 3rd July, 2008.
By the time the government and EC stated that authorities are preparing for local government election before the National level. The parliamentary election will be held as of the declaration made by the Chief Advisor (CA) at his speech to nation delivered earlier. Parliamentary Election is tentatively scheduled for the third week of December 2008.
Authorities related to election and local body governance are preparing to hold Upazila (sub-district) Porishad (Council) election on October next; the council was stopped at 80s of last century after its first tenure practice. Couple of days ago government had a dialogue with the local government representatives, which was represented by the elected local leaders from municipalities and Union Council, the manager organisations of grassroots people. In the dialogue local leaders demanded to hold local body election before the parliament.
Meanwhile, after a dialogue with Khelafoth Mozlish, a group belongs to religion based politics; a government advisor said interim government is considering amending the Emergency Ordinance in view of easing provisions prohibiting gatherings, rally or meetings ahead of local body elections.
Political observers said, as of today AL is more integrated and organised in terms of Organisation and alliance. BNP is in a scattered situation as an organisation, especially after the split, and the four-party alliance is also not in a position that they could face a challenge like series of elections. That is why BNP including the partners of 4-party alliance suddenly come up with the slogan of boycott, which is for the time being, the observers mentioned.
They also mentioned that the people of Bangladesh become the great observe of the situation of price hick and political happenings. Mass people are observing the government, how they comply their said-commitment and the politicians, how they react. People are also measuring the sense of responsibility, wisdom and honor to the aspiration of people of Political parties concurrently. In this scenario, no political party has any strength to ignore the silent pressure from the people. On the other hand this mass psychology is also a subject of extra consideration for the military backed interim government.
Other analysts said that AL took the local government election as a warm up match for the final in National level election though AL demanding Parliamentary Election. In the parliament of Bangladesh there are 300 constituencies, but the country has more than 450 Upzila where many of local leaders could be absorbed, who are always battle for parliamentary candidature in the party.
Analysts also mentioned that through this practice workers of AL will also be mobilised by an organised manner which would be enhanced the moral courage and standard of action be needed in National election. As one of the major party, the decision of AL has been pushed the counterpart BNP in a mental warfare, the analysts said. And the interim government had a time being upper hand to handle the situation any way.
By the time few distinguished guests from Europe visited Bangladesh and had meetings with political parties, the agenda of the meeting was making Bangladesh a Democracy so far. It is assumed that European dignitaries asked political parties to support the transformation process to Democracy and good governance.
Observers also stated that, finally all political parties will be in election process as the people want to see an elected political government. Politicians and the government, both of the sides have no pavement to escape other than honouring the people.
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