In previous elections also, the Western diplomats tried to insist on holding free and fair elections. But the government had no difficulty in not heeding to their appeals.
The robbery of elections went on as an institutional arrangement by government officials. The government has become more brave in reminding us that diplomatic concerns of the Western leaders about election stealing can be flouted easily and an unelected government would face no problem to do business as usual with the same Western democracies.
The Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen made it clear that survival of the government does not depend on our voters. He appealed to the government of India to do everything necessary to ensure that Sheikh Hasina’s government remains in power. He should be praised for having no shame in making such a request to a foreign country. On the other hand, he has been defiant and sees it as his big achievement. He also has proved how rootless the government is.
Unfortunately as the birth of Bangladesh was by removing Pakistan army occupation so India’s friendship with Bangladesh has been exploited as an opportunity to eliminate the free election process for the people. Relying on Mr Momen’s request of all possible help from India one can come to the conclusion that for all tyrannical actions by the government the courage and strength came from India.
The people live in fear. The government certainly kept all the doors open to supply of all the facilities by India to have rigged elections. That is how the Indian government was able to make the unelected government to continue in power for more than a decade in their self interest.
The government asserts that the forthcoming election will be held according to their handmade Constitution. Under the parliamentary system nowhere elections are held without first dissolving the parliament.
Moreover, according to the present constitution, the power will not be transferred to the opposition immediately after the election victory but after three months.
In India, parliamentary election takes place proroguing the parliament but India does not want to see our election is held that way after dissolving the parliament, denying our people their right to form the government.
Our people do not want to hear the Western leaders repeating the same speeches they had heard before. There is no need for secret meetings. Free elections are an open affair of the people.
The government should be asked point blank to drop the constitutionally fraudulent amendment and dissolve the parliament now. Honest intention of the government to hold election honestly has to be proved now. To wait till election date more than a year away is to help India try another election robbery.
We all earnestly desire friendship with our closest democratic neighbour India. But that does not mean we shall be governed by election riggers backed by India. India must seek friendship with the people.
India’s help to election robbery in Bangladesh will not work this time, but it will only plunge the country in horrible chaos of anger retribution.
The friendly way for India to help the present government is to ask it to resign in favour of an emergency government. The government is so surrounded by thoroughly incompetent men and women that they cannot offer sensible advice. They are depending on India to save themselves.
It is no less surprising to help an unelected government in a police state with India’s help but the Western countries cannot come to our help so that as an independent country aspiring for democracy should be able to elect the government by our people and loyal to people.
