Dilemma over formation of JS opposition on

Special Correspondent :
After the dust has settled from the 12th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, a perplexing question has taken center stage in the political arena – who will occupy the opposition benches?

The independents, a majority of whom are ruling party leaders, have secured the second-largest number of seats, leaving observers pondering the formation of the opposition bench in House.

In a country that follows the Westminster System, a formal opposition is a constitutional necessity, and it usually comprises the party or coalition with the second-largest number of seats in the House.

However, the current scenario bears a striking resemblance to the aftermath of the first parliamentary polls on March 7, 1973.

While the constitution itself does not explicitly outline the process for opposition formation, the rules of procedure in parliament provide some guidance.

According to these rules, the “Leader of the Opposition” is the member of parliament, recognised by the Speaker, leading the party or group in opposition to the government with the greatest numerical strength in the House.

Local government election expert, Badiul Alam Majumder, weighed in on the matter, asserting that since the independents were not elected under the banner of the ruling party, Article 70 of the constitution – which bars lawmakers from voting against their party – would not apply to them, clearing the path for them to potentially form an opposition alliance.

The election results revealed that the Awami League secured 224 seats, while the traditional government supported opposition party, Jatiya Party (JaPa), only managed to win 11 seats.

The independents, mostly composed of ruling party leaders, emerged as a formidable force with 62 seats.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the formation of the opposition, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday declared that Jatiya Party would be the main opposition in the 12th parliament.

Quader made the assertion during a press conference at the AL President Sheikh Hasina’s office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi.

When questioned about the possibility of an Awami League versus Awami League scenario in parliament, Quader dismissed the notion, emphasizing that Jatiya Party is a distinct political entity. He stated, “They are the Jatiya Party, not the Awami League.

The independent candidates are independent. And if you consider parties, then the Jatiya Party will be the opposition in the parliament.”

As the nation waits for a resolution to this unprecedented situation, political analysts and citizens alike are closely monitoring the developments that will shape the dynamics of the 12th parliamentary session in Bangladesh.