Elections are the solution to core problems

Although the interim government represented the unprecedented national unity that had developed in Bangladesh through the July Uprising, it could not ensure a stable environment and security in the country even after 15 months. The government has not been able to show much success in overcoming the fragile state that the fallen dictatorship has left the country’s economy. There is no investment in the country, and the negative trend continues.

Experts believe that domestic and foreign investors and development partners are waiting for a free and fair national election in the country. The sooner the democratic process is accelerated through elections, the sooner investment and economic stagnation will be overcome. A kind of national consensus has already been established on holding national elections in February. But Jamaat and its seven other allies are resorting to the pretext of delaying the elections with various conditions and demands, including a referendum. This became very clear to the nation through their mass rally in the capital on Tuesday.

The comments by leaders of eight parties that elections will be held in 2029, not 2026, if the July Charter is not legalized, indicating that they are more willing to divert attention from holding national elections. Meanwhile, subversive activities aimed at destabilizing the country by allies of the fallen dictatorship have now reached a worrying level. In the past few days, various types of sabotage, including setting buses on fire, exploding bombs, and carrying out mass protests, under the guise of implementing the lockdown program of fugitive leaders.

The fear of a major disaster in the country cannot be ruled out. BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has always advocated for national unity. Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has also spoken at various times about forming a national government after the elections. The complications and uncertainty created over the national elections even after the signing of the July Charter are undesirable. In such a reality, the BNP has said that the responsibility for any decision taken outside the July Charter lies with the interim government.

In the current political and economic reality, there is no other solution other than political transformation through a democratic process. Many problems, including confronting the conspiracy of the fallen dictatorship, can be solved only by establishing a representative government through national elections at the announced time. In this regard, everyone must be careful that existing obstacles and disagreements do not become a complement to the agenda of a fallen dictatorship.