Citizens’ platform concerns over stage-managed polls again

Staff Reporter :
Moulik Odhikar Surokkha Committee, a platform of human rights activists, yesterday expressed grave concern over the stage-managed national election which is going to be held on 7 January, next year.

Speakers expressed their concern at a discussion titled “Again a state-managed election: Citizens concern” organized by the committee at Drikpath Bhaban in the capital.

Addressing the discussion, eminent economist Professor Anu Mohammad said that after October 28, all peaceful movements have been blocked. A dire situation has emerged at present.

People are being oppressed not only for voting, but also for talking about wages, education and health.

Supreme Court lawyer Shahdeen Malik said according to the current Constitution, if the parliament is dissolved at the end of December, there is an opportunity to hold elections within the next 90 days.

The Supreme Court lawyer also said, the current movement of opposition parties is being suppressed by the government adopting the ‘Assad model’ of Syria.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, the Secretary of SHUJAN (Citizens for Good Governance), who presided over the discussion, said the election that is being planned now is not only controlled or arranged, it is heading towards another one-sided election.

In his speech, Professor Asif Nazrul said that like other coercive mechanisms, the government is using the judicial system as a tool to suppress the oppositions.

All state apparatus are also working to serve the regime’s interest replacing their institutional duties.

Ahead of the 12th general election the current political environment is more uncongenial for the oppositions than the political environment before the elections of 2014 and 2018, Asif Nazrul added.

The 12th Jatiya Sangsad election will be held on 7 January, 2024 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission on 15 November amid staunch objections from the opposition parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islam and other like- minded parties.

Rejecting the election schedule, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned that the country was now headed towards an “inevitable conflict”.

The ruling Awami League welcomed the EC announcement, saying it goes in line with the constitution and elections will be held accordingly.

Prominent photographer and social activist Shahidul Alam moderated the discussion.