Dialogue key to unlocking political gridlock: EC
News Desk :
While political parties have yet to bridge their differences, the Election Commission (EC) has made significant progress in preparing for the upcoming 12th general election.
The EC has also been exploring the possibility of breaking the political deadlock through dialogue between the major parties.
According to EC officials, the election schedule has almost been finalised, with voting equipment set to be dispatched to the field level in the coming week, reports bdnews24.com.
Even as their list of tasks grows, the EC remains hopeful that the conflicting political parties can find a consensus to ensure a participatory election.
The 90-day countdown to the general vote starts on Nov 2. Before that, the EC plans to conduct a workshop with media representatives titled ‘Jatir Protyasha’ on Oct 26.
They have already prepared a keynote paper on the issue, emphasising the need to create an environment conducive to a free, fair, participatory, and peaceful election.
In the present circumstances, the keynote paper urges the parties to discard mutual mistrust, vengeance, and lack of confidence in favour of seeking compromise and resolution through dialogues.
Ashok Kumar Debnath, the EC’s additional secretary, said the discussion with media personnel would shed light on the expectations of the people regarding the issue.
The keynote paper issued by the EC highlights the persistent failure to resolve disagreements among political parties through dialogues. Despite holding public meetings and rallies to showcase their political strength, the opposition groups have remained steadfast in their positions, and the crisis has endured.
The EC acknowledges that this is a political issue beyond its control and believes that the existing electoral laws in the country are adequate.
However, achieving the desired outcome through legal means is challenging without synergy between the legal and political spheres.
In a multi-party democracy, differences of opinion and other crises are expected. Therefore, the EC believes that “mutual tolerance and empathy are the key factors in ensuring a sustainable and stable democracy”.
The EC warns that a prolonged election crisis poses a risk to democracy.
The EC also expresses hope that the role and ideas of the media will prove beneficial during the workshop.
The demand for a political dialogue has gained traction, both domestically and internationally. The BNP has been running a ‘one-point’ campaign since Jul 12, calling for the ruling government to step down and a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee the election.
As a final step, the BNP has called a rally in Dhaka on Oct 28, and the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul has announced a ‘grand march’ that day, with the pressure campaign continuing until the government steps down. However, the ruling Awami League has dismissed the BNP’s demands, asserting that Sheikh Hasina will remain prime minister during and after the election if she wins.
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader believes both the BNP and the Awami League should show flexibility, and the government should initiate a dialogue to ensure a participatory election. He notes that some foreign powers are pressuring the government, while others are offering support.
Amid these developments, the pre-election monitoring panel of the United States has recommended open and meaningful discussions between major political parties about key election issues to ensure a participatory and conflict-free election.
