Yet the political atmosphere of Bangladesh is not gloomy, but a fog of debate and disbelieve are running over the total situation; and this disbelieve has been emerged from the debate on an approximate date of National i.e. the Parliamentary Election and the election date of local governments.
Before a month the Election Commission (EC) hinted that the schedule for City Corporation Election might be declared on March 2008. It was also said from the Election Commission that the national election would be held on December 2008 as per the road map drawn by the Commission.
As of the rules and regulation of Bangladesh, holding election of Upazilla level was on the Local Government Ministry. In very recent past council of the advisors of present interim government has enacted a law providing responsibility to the EC for conducting elections at Upazilla level.
One advisor of the interim government expressed his opinion that local government election should be conducted before national election. EC was not totally agreed with the advisor. Though major political parties are demanding national election before any local body election, a large portion of politicians, intellectuals, civil society leaders have a strong opinion in favour of holding local government election first.
On the other hand a large number of Union Council, the grass root level local body, are arguing for holding elections before the national level election, which has already been scheduled on December next as of the road map of EC. Local Press and political observers assuming, there is a big chance of local government election from next September. But, there is no clear indication from the EC. The Election Commission once hinted that it was not able to declare the election schedule for four City Corporations.
With due respect to the major political parties, experts and observers of local government structure are arguing to hold local government election before the national level. They are arguing that experiences of past pair of decades are not very healthy about the strengthening process of local governments. Despite the fact that the stronger local government, the better democracy, politicians are not intending to build a strong local government system. So the process of building a strong local government system should be started before electing the Members of Parliament.
Heavy Weight politicians are arguing that as the prime task of the interim government is holding a Parliamentary election, the government and the authorities concerned should concentrate their activities only for holding a national election and transfer power to an elected political government. The political government will be responsible to take decision on local government election. One Presidium member of Awami League (AL), the largest political party of Bangladesh said that EC could schedule the local body election after a month of holding national level election. This process could remove doubt about local level election from the mindset of experts, local level leaders and civil society.
Another major political party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) presently engaged to manage internal crisis, but the senior leaders of this party also want to see a meaningful national election according to the EC road map.
Instead of involving in this debate, politicians and authorities are preparing for election. Political parties are taking preparation to participate in any election to be scheduled in near future. Meanwhile the EC hinted that by September, next election process would be started in the Country. One top-ranking lawyer advocated that local government election should be conducted before the parliamentary election to establish a development oriented strong democracy in Bangladesh. If authorities consider the cost involvement in election, Upazilla and parliamentary elections could be conducted in a same day.
No doubt the ongoing debate is creating a little distrust in public mind, which must be steered clear of. Whoever parties concerned is taking necessary plan for an acceptable election must take all necessary steps to establish better democracy for the nation.
E-Mail author:The author of this article, Kazi Mohoshin Al Abbas, is a Bangladesh based senior journalist writes on issues related to socio-political developments in Bangladesh.
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