Feb Election Road Map brings relief to Khulna residents

Khulna Bureau :

After a long period of political uncertainty, a ray of relief has appeared in the national politics of Bangladesh. The dark cloud of uncertainty that had gathered over the national elections between December this year and July next year seems to have now passed. An important meeting held in London between BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and prominent economist and country’s chief advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has given hopeful news – the 13th national elections will be held by February 10.
This news is bringing relief to the port city of Khulna, like many other places in the country. After the long shadow of uncertainty, a smile of relief has appeared on the faces of Khulna residents. With the news that the election date has been finalized through political compromise, people from different classes and professions, including political activists, businessmen, teachers and students, have started weaving new dreams.
For the past few days, conscious citizens of Khulna have been concerned about the course of politics. Whether there will be an election or not, and if so, when – these questions were swirling in every discussion. Especially since December, the political unrest and calls for movement had started to have a negative impact on Khulna’s business and trade. Therefore, on the day of the London meeting, every political arena in Khulna and the common people had their eyes on it.
It is learned that after long discussions, Dr. Yunus and Tarique Rahman agreed on the outline of an election. Based on this agreement, the Election Commission is preparing to organize the elections in the first half of February. With such news, various political parties in Khulna have also started preparing to enter the field anew.
Nurul Amin, a businessman from KDA Avenue in Khulna, said, “There was an unrest among the people for the last few months. No one wanted to invest, no one was taking any big decisions. Now it seems that we are heading towards stability. If the election is held, the market will regain momentum.”
Md. A businessman from Khulna New Market Maruf Ur Rahman said, “Business is not doing well due to political uncertainty. If the elections are held on time now, we can expect a good sale.”
Political instability directly affects educational institutions. Minhajul Abedin Sampad, a student of Khulna University and one of the leaders of the student movement against discrimination, said, “The instability surrounding the elections was harming the students’ studies. If the elections are held peacefully now, the students and their guardians will be relieved.”
Educationist Professor Anwarul Qadir said, “If the country’s politics remain stable, students can focus on their studies. We want elections to be held peacefully and participatoryly.”
Khulna political activists are also preparing to take to the field after the announcement of the possible schedule for the elections. And the leaders and activists have started mass communication in different areas.
SM Aktaruzzaman, Khulna Metropolitan Member Secretary of Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, said, “We are always in favor of elections with the determination to build a new Bangladesh in the spirit of 24. In favor of democracy. “This time, we will take the people along and deliver our message of development to the doorsteps of the people.”
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam Khulna Metropolitan Ameer Professor Mahfuzur Rahman said, we are always in favor of elections. However, before that, necessary reforms must be made, the July Charter must be announced and the fascists must be tried.
Khulna Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Shafiqul Alam Tuhin said, the gloomy atmosphere in politics has been largely broken through Friday’s London meeting. The fruitful consensus reached on the national election before the next Ramadan has brought a message of relief and a ray of hope to the people of the country by overcoming uncertainty. Through this harmony and agreement between the country’s largest political party – BNP and the head of the interim government, democracy, Bangladesh, and the people will win. He said, we have been agitating for the right to vote for 17 years. We were on the streets with prison oppression in mind – and we are still there. We started organizational work with the election in February in mind. New enthusiasm has been created among the leaders and activists. The party leaders and activists have been instructed to work so that the general public can go to the polling stations and vote for the candidate of their choice.
The common people of Khulna are now expecting a fair, peaceful and participatory election. Makbul Hossain, a rickshaw puller from the city’s Khalishpur area, said, “When there is an election, there is peace and work. When there is chaos, our income stops.”
Rubina Khatun, a housewife from the Gallamari area, said, “I don’t understand politics, but I want peace, children to go to school, and prices to be fair in the market.”
Khulna civic leaders say that the uncertainty that created fear in the minds of the people has now been replaced by optimism. Khulna residents want a participatory, acceptable and impartial election. If the tone of political compromise reached at the London meeting is implemented, they believe that stability will return to Khulna and the entire country.
As citizens, Khulna residents have many dreams-that their children will be educated with good education, that business and commerce will flourish, that the roads will be safe and that there will be peace in civic life. A fair election can be the first step towards fulfilling that dream. And with this news of hope, Khulna seems to have truly come back to life.