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In addition to expressing interest in the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, the United States has been putting considerable pressure on the Awami League government and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the past few months. The Bangladesh PM has made many public statements about the role of America. It is thought that this made the relationship between the two countries hostile. In particular, the country's ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, is visibly Bangladeshi Interfered in internal affairs. And was able to create the impression that, come what may, the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections will not be held without the participation of the BNP. BNP was communicating that position through various programs. The United States has repeatedly said from the beginning that the upcoming national elections should be participatory for all.
Ahead of this election, the United States also announced its new visa policy for Bangladesh a few days ago. They are still quite active in Bangladesh elections. Bangladesh election is not only about the US but also about India and China's position and a big issue there India and China clarified their position last week about their role in the Bangladesh election. India fears that the United States' activism in the Bangladesh elections could destroy regional stability. Because India believes, fundamentalist forces will rise if political stability is destroyed. China's influence in South Asia will also increase exponentially, which will become dangerous for India as well as the US. Bangladesh and India have already given this explanation to the United States in various ways based on the elections. The people of Bangladesh will decide that. They will decide the future of their country. India is a close friend of Bangladesh. India respects the democratic process of that country. India has always supported the country's vision to make Bangladesh stable, peaceful, and prosperous. That support will continue. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen and a seminar titled '10 Years of BRI: The Beginning of the Next Golden Decade' at a hotel in the capital last week.
With regard to the upcoming national elections, he emphasised 'adherence to the constitution of Bangladesh' and said that China wants to see the elections according to the constitution. In response to a question at a regular press conference last Tuesday local time, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, in his recent briefing, a questioner who wanted to know the position of the United States on the ongoing political violence in Bangladesh. He asked, do you think that because the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has chosen the path of violence, it is playing a role in undermining the democratic process of Bangladesh? In response, Matthew Miller said, we want to see a free and peaceful election in Bangladesh. We want to see elections that are conducted peacefully. This is our policy and I have made this clear several times from here. Later the questioner wants to know do you condemn the organised political violence of BNP in the context of human rights important to the United States? In response, this spokesperson of the US State Department said, I think I have answered this question in my previous answer. After that, the original question of participatory elections is now the biggest issue, rather than the non-participation of BNP in Bangladesh elections. To maintain the continuity of the constitution, the Election Commission has already announced the schedule of the twelfth parliamentary elections. If everything goes according to normal rules, there will be no legal obstacles in the elections on January 7.
As the government party, the Awami League has started preparing for elections in full swing. But in the midst of everything at home and abroad, the common man has become the main topic of discussion everywhere except BNP. Is the election possible at all? if possible, will the question of the validity of that election be raised? The aggressive stance of a country like America is creating fear in the public mind. Now whether participatory election means only the participation of BNP or the participation of many political parties is also a question. After the Election Commission announced the schedule last week, 17 of the country's 44 registered political parties rejected the schedule. And 15 teams welcomed the schedule. In which all parties except BNP are actually political parties in name. The largest political party Jatiya Party did not say anything against the election at that time. But the Jatiya Party and United Front have announced their participation in the elections, paving the way for participatory elections.
In Wednesday's programme of the Joktofront, Syed Ibrahim said the Front is preparing to field candidates in 100 seats in the next parliamentary election. The date for submission of election nominations may be postponed from November 30. Other dates, including polling, may also be delayed. In the newly formed Juktofront with Kalyan Party, there is Jatiya Party (Matin), and Bangladesh Muslim League. Besides, Trinamool BNP, and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM), which suddenly got registered as political parties with the Election Commission, are talking about fielding candidates in 300 seats in the national parliament elections.
On the other hand, about 125 leaders of various levels of BNP will participate in the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections under the banner of the independent democracy platform. Even though BNP participated in the election as a party, 125 BNP leaders under the banner of Swadhan Democrat Manch are participating in the upcoming National Assembly elections. All kinds of preparations are being made. Bangladesh is now standing on the verge of elections. BNP's agitations, strike blockades, or arson policies to thwart the election and the demand of the government to resign, Sheikh Hasina's resignation have not been able to achieve anything. BNP now has no other option but to participate in the elections. Because BNP failed in the 2014 and 2018 elections, the leadership of BNP can say how reasonable it is to hope for success again with the same failure. Rather than demanding the caretaker government, if the BNP had agitated for Khaleda Zia's release or Tareq Zia's safe return to Bangladesh, it would have been an opportunity to involve them widely. The emotions of the common people of Bangladesh towards family political traditions are involved.
A large section of the general population of the country still harbours sentiments towards the Zia family. BNP could not connect those common people aptly with them even in the last 15 years. Rather, they have been engaged in an uneven fight with the ruling Awami League, in which they are the leader commander is absent. No war can be won with mistrust and lack of leadership. BNP has both. The Election Commission has said that if BNP still expresses interest in participating in the ensuing elections, the Election Commission will create that scope. The date of election will be changed by announcing the new election schedule. I don't think BNP has any option, but to participate in this election if it wants to survive. If BNP does not join the elections, the local leaders of the BNP are actually independent for different parties will take part in the election, and it is now almost certain that a competitive election will be held between the Awami League and independent or different coalition candidates. The game will be played, but BNP seems destined to sit in the audience gallery and not on the field.
The writer is UK-based journalist and columnist
Messenger/Fameema
