US pre-election monitoring team in its recent visit to Bangladesh made five recommendations as a roadmap for progress toward credible, inclusive, participatory, and nonviolent election. Dialogue with political parties was the number one of these recommendations. The government said it has no objection to the proposal. But the dialogue will have to be condition-free. However, there is no sign of dialogue yet among the political parties including two major parties Awami League and BNP as the upcoming parliamentary election is knocking on the door.

The main opposition party BNP is now observing various political programmes all over the country demanding the resignation of the prime minister, formation of the non-party caretaker government, and reformation of the election commission. The ruling party is under pressure to bring the BNP and its alliance partners in the election. There is no alternative to a dialogue or discussion for a political consensus. But both Awami League and BNP are reluctant to sit in a dialogue. They have no response over the dialogue. 

Earlier, Awami League and BNP sat in dialogue over polls. The last political dialogue between the two parties was held in 2018, before the 11th parliamentary elections. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and vice-chairman Tarique Rahman couldn’t take part in the elections as they were convicted by the court. BNP participated in the polls under the banner of Jatiya Oikya Front led by Gono Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain after the dialogue. However, the alliance won only in seven constituencies because of its organizational weakness and multiple candidates.      

The ruling Awami League does not think it is needed to sit in dialogue with the BNP. It also thinks there is no political crisis over the next national election. The party is not showing interest in dialogue for some conditions of the BNP despite pressure from the foreigners. Leaders of the party said BNP will have to participate under the current election commission and the current government as per the Constitution.      

Contacted, Awami League Presidium Member Advocate Qamrul Islam told Bangladesh Pratidin that they won’t compromise with BNP’s conditions as it is a terrorist party. The next election will be held under the incumbent election commission and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“If BNP wants, it can discuss any other issues. But no dialogue will be held with conditions,” he said.

The US pre-election monitoring team sat in a meeting with Awami League on October 9. In the meeting, the party told the team that the next parliamentary polls will be held as per the Constitution and it won’t sacrifice in this regard. The team wanted to know if there was any scope for compromise with the BNP. In response, Awami League said the BNP has closed the door of compromise by its one-point demand. Awami League told the team that it is not possible to form a caretaker government and abolish the parliament and the election commission. Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader briefed the media after the meeting.            

Leaders of the Awami League said the election commission will announce the schedule of the election as per the Constitution. Registered political parties will participate in the election. There is no scope for the caretaker government. If any political party wants to sit in dialogue, they will have to come without conditions. 

Awami League Presidium Member Dr. Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin said, “Dialogue with whom? Dialogue for what? Does BNP demand it is an opposition party? Is it the right term according to the Constitution?  After that, dialogue might be held if they (BNP) do not give conditions and they represent in the parliament. I don’t think that there is any necessity for dialogue with BNP.”

Several Awami League leaders alleged that the BNP itself destroyed the scope of dialogue by giving a one-point demand which is not possible by the Constitution. That is why the chance of dialogue is limited. 

When contacted, Awami League Presidium Member Abdur Rahman told Bangladesh Pratidin that BNP wants to oust the government and the prime minister. They also want the abolishment of the election commission. They don’t respect the Constitution and the law. No dialogue will be held with them. 

“If BNP accepts Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the head of the election-time government and wants to participate in the election as per the Constitution, and seeks an apology for its past activities, we will consider dialogue. Before that, there is no need for dialogue,” he asserted. 

On the other hand, the BNP is determined that it won’t sit in dialogue with the Awami League as the ruling party set the agenda of the discussion. The party’s policymaking body said dialogue is an important process to resolve political stagnation. However, the ruling party will have to announce a non-party caretaker government for dialogue. Otherwise, they (BNP) won’t sit in dialogue with the government or Awami League.  

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, member of the BNP Standing Committee and head of the foreign affairs committee, said, “It is not possible to hold dialogue with Awami League as the pro-democratic world and the people of the country are fighting against them. People want to become free from the ruling Awami League. They (people) are united. Changes are coming.”   

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in his Thursday speech said the massive journey of the movement will start from October 28. He told Bangladesh Pratidin that the BNP won’t sit in the dialogue except on the issue of the neutral caretaker government. His party will consider dialogue after the announcement of the non-party caretaker government.   

Abdus Salam, advisor to BNP Chairperson and convener of the Dhaka city south unit BNP said, “BNP wants to go in dialogue considering bringing back people’s voting rights and establish democracy in the country. However, the ruling party is a big obstacle to dialogue. They closed the all doors of the dialogue. So, all solutions will be occurred on the street.”

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on October 20, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.