Commentary: Election rigging cannot be a celebration to a free people
– Mainul Hosein :
For the last few days we saw vulgar excitement among the candidates rushing for joining the election rigging.
The name of the game is rushing for a share in the ill- gotten money.
The rigged election is not a people’s election, rather a vicious conspiracy against the people.
There is no certainty about holding of the rigged election denouncing the people’s vote.
We are all worried about clashes between the people and the government desperate to cling to power.
The active engagement of the US and other Western democracies against election robbery will have consequences.
This election rigging is a direct challenge to democracy and the democratic rights of our people.
It is they who all along made supreme sacrifices for democracy so that they can enjoy freedom. The country is free but the people are in bondage is the way of communism.
Now Awami League has exposed itself internationally that it cannot face its own people in a free and fair election. The government will be routed.
The government used terror tactics to keep everybody silent and suffer silently.
This scheme of election rigging must have been supplied by outside source. Full advantage is taken of the void in our political leadership.
The international community under the dominant influence of the USA has been trying hard to hold the upcoming election free and fair.
The people’s right to choose their own government in a free and fair election is universally recognised as human right authorising every other country to help save the sanctity of election.
Awami League has been following their way to establish BAKSAL — one party rule.
Their internal terror arrangement was so effective that in spite of the democratic Constitution the people were living in constant panic.
There is no guaranty of remedy for the wrongs inflicted by the government.
The democratic Constitution has been a big lie proving no protection for independence of the judiciary or rule of law.
For taking sudden interest in the coming election of Bangladesh by the US and international community perturbed the government.
Bangladesh government relaxed the authoritarian grip a bit as a political strategy for not confronting the US now.
The people of Bangladesh raised angry voices to protest within and outside the country in support of free election.
But the government has no hesitation in imprisoning hundreds of BNP leaders and workers. In a democracy out of consideration of a free election the government releases the political prisoners.
Awami League government, meanwhile, set up its own water tight arrangement of hijacking the whole mechanism of the election.
The last two elections were won by rigging. But the US and the international community’s question of free and fair election has not been answered.
The government arrogantly insisted that the election be held under their government in compliance with their understanding of free and fair election.
As we see it the present Awami League government is bent upon the victory of their rigged election.
Huge amounts of money are freely distributed for denying the people of their right to vote in the election.
The birth of Bangladesh is proved to be a dark conspiracy against democracy. The BNP is staying away from the race of election rigging.
Their demand is resignation of the government before the election as required under parliamentary democracy everywhere.
To deny the people free and fair election is not party politics.
We have a democratic Constitution given under the authority of the people. Let us use this Constitution for a fresh start.