After a successful end of the first set of local government poll, the Bangladesh administration is showing confidence that all elections as per the road map of Election Commission (EC) would be held under the State of Emergency. But major political parties are in a mood that military backed interim government should withdraw the state of emergency totally before any kind of elections. Foreign visitors like EU officials also urged to the authorities for total withdrawal of the emergency.
On the issue of emergency, it seems that government and politicians are on head to head situation. In the mean time, political observers and analysts are saying that if the government does not slip a way from its stand, it may cause a political loggerhead for holding up coming Upazila Parishad (sub-district council), the UP, election that is primarily scheduled for October next.
On Upazila Parishad elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is yet to make their stand as the supremo of the party Khaleda Zia and her elder son Tareque Rahman, another powerful in BNP are still in the jail.
Government advisors are saying that release process of Khaleda Zia is going on and BNP would be in the process of election very soon. Analysts said, it sounds very nice but if the process has not been complicated before the UP election, question will be raised among the stakeholders about the acceptability and fairness of the local body poll.
By geography Upazila covers the country except the Metropolitan with the number of 482 units.
Bangladesh Awami League (AL) that swept all 4 city and 8 out of 9 municipal mayoral position in recent poll, is saying that EC could arrange for election in 50 to 60 Upazila on October as a matter of the starting of the process. After parliament election that would be held in December 2008 as of road map, political government bound to be continuing the process when they will be in power.
Analysts said that this is a skin saving proposal form AL. As recent local body poll went in favor of them, AL leadership would be in a difficulty to control grassroots for UP election; and they would be in a panic for future political losses if they keep a way the demands of a political local body election and total withdrawal of emergency.
In this juncture, interim government, AL and BNP must reach to a decision by setting aside their chauvinistic stand. If they are failed to do so, a political loggerhead is a must, the analysts added.
Meanwhile, the EC preparations for Upazila polls in October continue at full throttle. But EC move was to make the elections non-partisan that remains caught up in uncertainty due to a recent High Court (HC) ruling. As a result EC is undecided whether to ask the government for a new provision in the UP ordinance to organise the polls with the political parties having no roles to play.
The HC told in its July 31 ruling that the Local Government (City Corporation) Ordinance 2008 and the Local Government (Municipality) Ordinance 2008 do not direct to de-politicisation. So, the rules in the electoral code of conduct to dispense with the use of political affiliation constitute a violation of the mother ordinances, it noted.
Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain told to the press recently that they were waiting for the certified copy of the HC's verdict. After going through the court’s ruling, EC will decide whether to ask the government to incorporate new provisions in the Upazila ordinance to restrict the political parties' involvement in the polls,” he added.
However, legal experts of the country said that it would be possible to exclude the political parties from the Upazila elections even by amending the related ordinance as that would again contradict the constitution that acknowledges functions and activities of the political parties.
In this situation political parties are enjoying upper hand, the Analysts said by adding that government is the manager of all concern to the people, they should do every thing for people those are fully complying with the law and constitution of the nation. Let see the law as a victorious.
* The author of this article is a Bangladesh based independent journalist and he writes for various news organisations across the globe. He can be reached at mabbas1961@yahoo.com
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