The chief adviser to the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has hinted that the next national parliament election will be held by December. On the other hand, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said that preparations are underway assuming the election in December as announced by the chief adviser.
However, the comment made by Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer of the northern region of the National Citizen Party, that 'no one should talk about elections before Sheikh Hasina's trial' has once again sparked a debate about the date of the election. Leaders of political parties have given mixed reactions to this. According to the reactions of politicians published in the press, none of them agree with Sarjis Alam's statement.
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader said, 'Trial is a continuous process. The trial process cannot be limited to a time frame. It can take any time for the trial. It takes a lot of time to do the trial, even five years, six years, twenty years, its time frame is uncertain. However, the election must be held within a specific time frame. Elections cannot be kept in uncertainty. It is not reasonable to link the issue of elections with trials.’
He also said, ‘It is not good for the people of the country for an unelected government to remain in power for a long time. This is the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The subjects are its owners. They must be given this ownership right as soon as possible. The role of the people is very important here. It should not be managed without the role of the people for a moment.’
GM Quader believes that it can never rest on the opinion of one person. Elections must be held. Whatever reforms are made by the elected representatives, the subsequent management of the country, the creation of such a situation as an accountable government, must be given as soon as possible.
Former President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Mujahidul Islam Selim, said in this regard, ‘Reforms cannot be made without elections because reforms will require the consent of the people. The reform process will not last long without the consent of the people’s representatives. But those reforms are essential for holding free and fair elections; they must be done before the elections. And other reforms will have to be done after the elections.’
‘So it is possible to hold elections even before December because after the fall of the dictator Ershad, the Shahabuddin government held elections within three months and formed a task force and made recommendations although the situation is different now. Even then, instead of three months, one and a half years is a long time,’ he added.
Stating that to be relevant in politics, the youth will have to pass a test of their principles and ideals, Mujahidul Islam Selim said, ‘We think that all criminals should be tried. Why only the Awami League, those who were involved in looting in the past should be tried. Now the party is being formed by spending crores of taka, what is the source of that money? Where do Mercedes cars come from? Everything should be tried. No wrongdoer should be left out of the trial.’
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, ‘Sheikh Hasina’s trial has nothing to do with the change of government. If we believe in the legal process, Sheikh Hasina will still be punished, it will still be, it will still be. There are many cases in Sheikh Hasina's name; they will continue to be resolved one after another through the judicial process. So the judicial process has nothing to do with the elections.'
Addressing the youth, he said, 'People come to parliament with a mandate, there will be discussions and debates, then it will be passed. Simply put, no one has any objection to the decisions that are made on the basis of consensus. But I propose, so it has to be, if there is such a mentality, then it reminds us of Sheikh Hasina's attitude. If the people give a mandate, then they will be implemented in the next elections. There is no other way.'
Jamaat-e-Islami Naib-e-Amir Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, however, believes that the AL trial and elections will go together. He said, 'We have proposed some reforms to the interim government. We have also demanded that the reforms be carried out very quickly. So we have been demanding that elections be held as soon as possible with minimum reforms. This is our party's position. The trial of the Awami League and the organization of elections by next December are both possible. If the government does all this seriously and with due responsibility, then it is possible.’
Chairman of the Jatiyo Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, ‘The students are saying and showing many things without understanding. They have talked about the trial of the Awami League, has that changed the government’s decision? We must always speak logically. The elections will be closed; this cannot be a matter of talk.’
Stating that it is possible to organize elections in the country by next December, this politician said, ‘It is not possible to judge the Awami League and give a verdict. The legal or judicial process is a very long time. I think it will not be possible to judge the Awami League, give a verdict of hanging or punishment by December. However, the initial stage of the trial can be started.’
Chairman of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, Mojibur Rahman Manju said, ‘This government will not be able to finish the trial of the Awami League. However, we hope that this government will be able to start the trial process of the Awami League. If the trial process starts, there will be no debate about the election. Seven months have passed since the interim government. They should seriously think about the trial process of the Awami League. If they neglect this issue, the trial may drag on.’ National Citizens Party (NCP) Senior Joint Convener Samantha Sharmin said, ‘The media is not reporting the election. We do not think the statement about the judicial process is entirely correct. We think that if the Awami League's judicial activities are visible and effective, the elections will be convenient for everyone. The rehabilitation of the Awami League in the elections will not happen again. However, the judicial process will proceed at its (own) pace. We do not want any political party to interfere with the judicial system here.
