Left parties in the country still demanding the next parliamentary election under a non-party caretaker government although the ruling Awami League has already started preparation to take the voting result in favour of ‘boat’. 

The government is determined to hold the next national election under the current government as per the Constitution. On the other hand, left parties are not taking the election preparation before resolving the caretaker government issue. The alliances of the left parties are discussing with like-minded parties to create pressure on the government demanding a non-party neutral government and reformation of the electoral system.   

“We clearly say that no election will be held under the partisan government. Neutral government is our main demand. We have been organising various programmes for this demand and the resignation of the current government. We won’t participate in the election until our demands are met. We are trying to wage simultaneous movement along with like-minded parties alongside our alliance. We have already discussed the issue with various alliances and parties including Anti-fascism Left Alliance, Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Oikya National Awami Party (NAP). We will move forward with them. However, we have no plan to ally with the Awami League or BNP.”

“From the very first day of the current government, we have been saying that a free and fair election is not possible under the partisan government. As part of our stance, we have boycotted the local government elections. No party from our alliance participated in the just-concluded city corporation polls. It seems there is no environment still to participate in the next polls,” he added.

Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Biplabi Workers Party, and coordinator of ‘Gonotantra Mancha’, another alliance of the left parties told Bangladesh Pratidin that there is no possibility of holding any acceptable election under the partisan government after the one-sided elections in 2014 and 2018. 

He said, “Biplabi Workers Party or ‘Gonotantra Mancha’ won’t participate in any more blueprint elections. Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Superintendents of Police (SPs) and administration hold the election. They can’t work going outside the direction of the government. That is why, the importance of an election time neutral government is more than the election commission. Therefore, the current government will have to resign before the next election. A neutral caretaker government will have to form. For this goal, ‘Gonotantra Mancha’ is participating in all simultaneous movements with all opposition parties including BNP. If the government denies the mass demand and holds another one-sided election forcibly, it will be suicidal for the country as well as the government. The country might turn into a violent situation. I believe as a historic and old party Awami League will handle the situation with wisdom in this matter. Otherwise, we won’t have the option to wage movement unitedly.”     

“Six parties participated in the last election with our symbol. We will try to participate in the upcoming elections as an alliance if there is a congenial atmosphere. We will also try to make an understanding with other like-minded parties,” said Saiful.     

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said, “The flow of the electoral process should be continued to maintain the constitutional flow. But the electoral system in the country has been destroyed. People across the globe know that voting is held in Bangladesh at night instead of in the day. We are fighting to bring back the electoral system in the country. It is proved that a good election is not possible under a partisan government. That’s why we demand a caretaker government during the election. We took part in elections in the past and will participate in the future if a congenial atmosphere prevails. The Communist Party won’t participate in a stage-managed election under a partisan government. We also know that the government won’t take our word and we have to wage movement on the streets for this demand.”  

Contacted, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSoD) Chairman Sharif Nurul Ambia said, “Our party is a newly registered one. For this reason, we haven’t yet given any proposal. The two last elections were controversial. The current political crisis should resolve by discussion. Some reformations must hold a fair election under the non-party caretaker government.”

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on July 08, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.