BNP, allies firm on Dec polls date

Following the announcement by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus that the 13th parliamentary elections would be held in April next year, most political parties, including the BNP, have termed that time "inappropriate" for the elections. They have stated that holding the polls in December of this year would be the most logical option.

On the other hand, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which has yet to regain its registration as a political party, and the National Citizen Party (NCP), which has not received registration, along with a handful of other parties, are in favour of holding the polls in April.

The BNP and around 30 like-minded parties argue that April is not a suitable time for the national election, considering the political, social, and religious context. They point out that public examinations and Ramadan occur before April, and the unfavourable weather during that month could make it unsuitable for holding polls. Altogether, holding the polls during the period will not create an environment conducive to inclusive participation, say the parties.

Meanwhile, Jamaat and the NCP say that elections will not be reasonable until July's charter formulation, the visible prosecution of the July-August genocide, necessary reforms, and ensuring the voting rights of expatriate Bangladeshis are all addressed. They say a minimum of time until April will be needed to accomplish these.

The BNP and its like-minded parties believe the chief adviser still has an opportunity to discuss with political parties and determine a more suitable election period.

Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of the BNP's Standing Committee, told TBS that April is not a suitable month for a national election, considering Bangladesh's political, social, and religious realities.

He said the BNP wishes for the election to be held before December, based on the collective opinion of the majority of the country's political parties.

Salahuddin said the BNP has so far been raising objections regarding the election timing announced by the chief adviser. "It is hoped that the current government will consider the BNP's logical concerns."

When asked about the BNP's stance on whether the interim government remains firm on an April election despite the majority of parties pushing for December, the Standing Committee member said, "What the position of the BNP and its like-minded parties will be regarding an April election, time will tell. However, there is still more time ahead, and the path of discussion is not closed.

"The BNP believes this will be resolved through dialogue. However, the BNP is trying in various ways to make the government understand that April is by no means a suitable time for a national election."

Salahuddin further said, "If the government does not accept the logical demand for a December election, time will tell what the BNP will do. However, the BNP will proceed through democratic means. Whatever programmes are necessary to realise this logical demand democratically will be implemented. The path of democracy is always open for everyone."

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP secretary general, while speaking to reporters at the BNP chairperson's office in Dhaka's Gulshan on Tuesday (10 June), also said April is not suitable for holding the polls.

Matiur Rahman Akand, central publicity secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami, said the nation hopes the chief adviser will take the necessary steps to hold a free, fair, neutral, and acceptable election within the announced timeframe.

Nahid Islam, convener of the NCP, said that for an April election to take place, a consensus-based declaration and the July Charter must be provided by July this year.

Considering the BNP's claim to be logical, Altaf Parvez, a researcher in South and Southeast Asian history and politics, told TBS, "Indeed, April is not an ideal time for such a significant national event. In Bangladesh, elections are traditionally held in the cooler months, typically between December and March. Therefore, an April election would not only be unusual but also somewhat delayed by local standards."

Altaf argued that it is not feasible to compare Bangladesh with India regarding election timing. "India is a vast country where the seasons are not uniform everywhere, and elections take a long time to conclude. In contrast, elections in our country are completed in just one day."

The researcher further said, "I believe the election timeline could still shift through behind-the-scenes negotiations among key stakeholders. There is a chance of discussions on this matter during the meeting between Tarique Rahman and Dr Yunus in London."

With the political activities of the Awami League currently banned, the NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami have emerged as the BNP's primary rivals in the political arena. Over the past few months, verbal disputes between these two parties and BNP activists have become almost a regular occurrence. In this context, the chief adviser's announcement of an April election has been perceived by many political analysts as a "rejection of the BNP's demands under pressure."

According to these analysts, by not accepting the election timetable proposed by the BNP and the army chief, and instead adopting Jamaat's advice, the chief adviser sought to demonstrate that he would not bow to pressure from any party. However, some analysts believe that the chief adviser has not yet presented any clear or acceptable justification for setting the election in April.

However, following the chief adviser's announcement, an adviser to the interim government explained that April was chosen for the election period to ensure that judicial and reform activities reach an acceptable stage, to include expatriate and young voters, and to properly complete election preparations.

He further explained that April was chosen as the month for the election to maximise voter participation, given that it falls after next year's Eid-ul-Fitr.

Political analyst Mohiuddin Ahmed considers the chief adviser's announced timeline to be suitable. "The BNP and some other political parties want elections by December. I don't see any major problem with holding the election four months earlier or later." 

Arguing that polls took place in June 1996, he added, "The BNP's argument about the weather is a weak excuse. 100% voter turnout in this country does not happen even when the sky is clear. And their claim that campaigning can't be done due to Ramadan, I don't find that logical either."