CG's rigidity a ploy to keep BNP out of race?
Faruque Ahmed
The caretaker government's (CG) decision to stick to the election date on December 18 came not only as a shock to the nation, it has also virtually left BNP, Jamat and other four-party alliance groups to take a decision whether to join the poll as lame duck or opt to keep out of the race to allow the opponents to take unilateral victory.
This is part of a bigger game plan in Bangladesh politics, observers say decrying the caretaker government's decision and condemning it. They wonder the 1/11 changeover may wear a new face soon and the country may have a new political destination breaking with the past opening new experiments and ideological horizon.
It is feared that an election without the participation of a major alliance may lead to a disabled democracy in Bangladesh. This will definitely affect the economy development of the country.
In view of the changed situation, observers wonder whether this election without all major party participation will bring the desired stability in country and help restore democracy.
They apprehend that the caretaker government may be acting on its own 'game plan' to elect a 'rubber stamp' parliament and a 'puppet' government, which would give immunity to its of extra-constitutional activities. Besides, observers also wonder, if the new strategy works, it may try to install a national government by picking some people of their choice and force the BNP, Jamaat and others to be in the opposition.
The caretaker government finally said Wednesday that national election will take place as scheduled on December 18, ignoring the BNP led four-party's four-point demand and its ultimatum for some rescheduling of the polls.
Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman conveyed the government decision in an announcement from the Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed office last Wednesday evening.
He blamed the major alliances for failing to agree to new time schedules, virtually sticking to Awami League's stand and ignoring BNP and its allies' demand for creating environment for holding a free, free and credible election to be participated by all. But negotiations are still known to be on to reach a solution. The government announcement in fact has ruled out any concession to BNP-led alliance, no improvement to election environment and change to basic rules that empower the election commission to knock out any candidate from the race at will during electioneering period.
It was a surprise decision at a time when the government spokespersons earlier have clearly indicated on November 18 that the 91(e) rule of the election code may be relaxed to make its application strictly restricted. Rescheduling of the polls on December 28 is also possible and the rule of emergency may also be totally removed, except supporting the need to maintain the overall law and order situation.
Observers wonder what prompted the CG to such a 'U' turn after publicly showing so much optimism about a positive solution.
The announcement of no concession to four-party alliance's came from Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman after a meeting of the council of advisers with Chief adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.
Earlier Chief of army staff Gen Moyeen U Ahmed also met the chief adviser and presumably exchanged views with him on the latest political situation and election in particular in the light of four-point ultimatum of the four-party alliance.
The four demands include removal of the rule of emergency immediately, dropping of 91(E) rule of the recently amended people's representation ordinance; which empowers EC to knock out any candidate from the race on alleged charges of violation of election roles and codes during the election campaign.
Two other points are delaying the Upazila election for several weeks and reschedule of the polling date to allow the haj pilgrims to return home and take part in the polls. BNP reduced its earlier seven-point demands to four as a sign of flexibility and make way to a compromise breaking the impasse.
In the light of the four-point ultimatum, the country witnessed a reeling political melodrama over the past three days. When the BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia issued the statement on November 17 evening announcing the four-party alliance's participation to the polls basing on fulfilment of the four-point demands, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman had welcomed the statement as a positive step towards election.
Speaking for the council of advisers, he said the demands have merits and deserves serious consideration to facilitate the participation of all major political parties in the polls. He said the caretaker government wants all parties are taking part in the polls and would do everything on the way. It is working every moment to achieve that goal, he argued.
Foreign envoys in Dhaka also started moving to both the political camps to seek flexible attitude to allow time and scope for participation of all parties in the polls. The US ambassador and the British High Commissioner made specific statements suggesting that polls can only be acceptable and credible only if all parties have the scope and the opportunity to take part.
Arab ambassadors also put their best efforts towards finding a common solution to the problem meeting the parties and seeking conciliation.
The team of five advisers of the caretaker government responsible to hold dialogue with parties and sort out political issues took immediate move and held meeting with BNP chairperson and other frontline leaders of the party and its alliance at BNP's Gulshan office on the evening of November 18.
From there they went to meet Sheikh Hasina at her Sudhasadan residence at Dhanmondi and talked about rescheduling election date to December 28 and other issues. The removal of the rule of emergency, 91(e) of the people's representation ordinance governing election and delaying upazila election are common demands of almost all major parties including BNP, Awami League.
Insiders said, Sheikh Hasina however, remained strongly opposed to delaying the polling date from December 18. Her spokesman Dr Hassan Mahmud later told the press: "Awami League is opposed to allowing time to anybody to take preparation for winning the polls."
The team of advisers was scheduled to meet the BNP and its allies again after meeting Sheikh Hasina to continue the dialogue until a solution has been worked out. But the environment suddenly changed in the afternoon of November 19.
Whispers ran around by that time that the caretaker government is going for a hard line. The team of advisers stopped going to its promised meeting with BNP and four-party leaders and an announcement from the chief adviser's office was made asking reporters to become available for important decisions in the evening.
At 8 PM at a brief press briefing Dr Hossain Zillur blamed both parties for failing to agree to a new date for the polls and said in the situation the government has decided to go along with the announced polls schedules for December 18, a position identical to that of the Awami League.
The EC has however, extended the time for filing nominations by candidates by three days from November 20, apparently to help those missing the bus.
Observers wonder why the caretaker government has become kind of a partisan player dropping out its neutral position. As per constitution, it should play the role of an honest broker.
Referring to emergence of 1/11 they said the army entered the political scene to take the country's derailed political train back on to the track. The country witnessed mid-day political massacre at that time in the city staged by activists of a major political party and it needed strong hand to restore law and order.
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