Can our susil editors write such editorial? Govt needs to be more cautious THIS paper has continuously argued that the only way to bring about qualitative changes in the nature of politics is through the political process itself, and not through some other route that suspends or circumvents the political process. Hence, from the beginning of the military-controlled interim government's tenure, we have demanded that the political process be reinstated and that parliamentary elections be held as early as possible so that the administration of the affairs of the state can be returned to a government elected by the people. Now, almost twenty-two months later, when parliamentary polls finally appear within reach, we are beginning also to see another trend emerging which gives us reason for apprehension. Many of the allegations of partisan bias levelled by the Awami League against the caretaker administration of Iajuddin Ahmed and the Election Commission of MA Aziz in late 2006 that led to the cancellation of the January 2007 parliamentary elections are now being made by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party against the interim administration of Fakhruddin Ahmed and the Election Commission of ATM Shamsul Huda.
In 2006 the Awami League did not have any faith in the Election Commission and had demanded the resignation of chief election commissioner MA Aziz. Just last week, the BNP chairperson stated that the BNP did not feel that neutral election can be held under the present commission and asked for all three commissioners to resign. Two years ago, the Awami League alleged that the civil administration, particularly at the field level, had a pro-BNP bias and that the Iajuddin government was not effectively dismantling it. This year, the BNP has been alleging that the civil administration at the field level is being given a pro-Awami League tinge.
Last time, it was the Awami League that had demanded the rescheduling of polls, after it had decided to contest the elections, to give it more time to select its candidates. That schedule was subsequently changed and even the election date was pushed back by a couple of days. This time, we have information that the BNP will demand that the last date for submission of nomination papers be postponed to give it and its allies longer to select their candidates to the 300 constituencies, particularly in light of delimitation that has made old considerations and calculation irrelevant. The BNP, however, does not want the elections date pushed back.
In 2006 the Awami League had claimed that the caretaker administration was put in place by the BNP to do its bidding. This time, the BNP has seized on earlier statements by the AL chief suggesting that the present interim administration is the result of the Awami League's movement to paint this regime as a pro-AL administration.
Our intention in making this point is not to comment on the veracity of the allegations made by the BNP. However, when a major political party makes allegations of bias against an interim administration and the Election Commission, those allegations should be taken seriously. Hence, for the sake of holding participatory and credible elections on December 18, we would urge the interim government and the Election Commission to do everything to dispel any misgivings that the political parties may have and to be, and also to appear to be, absolutely neutral in discharging their responsibilities. This country cannot afford to have parliamentary elections cancelled once again, particularly not on grounds of perceived bias of the administration or the commission.
এরশাদ কে আবার বাংলাদেশের প্রেসিডেন্ট হিসাবে আপনার সহ্য হবে ? |
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