Conspiracy to bring Awami League to power?

[BanglaBhoot]

Faruque Ahmed

HOLIDAY – November 7, 2008

With two distinctly dissimilar facades the country seems to be rolling on the so-called ‘highway’ to election. One is the reactivation of Speedy Trial Courts (STCs) to take major political leaders of BNP and Jamat-e-Islami to face new court action and possible detention, and the other is relaxation of the emergency rule to facilitate poll.

In such a situation, the biggest question that perturbs the public mind is: What is the real motive of the Caretaker Government (CG) behind the double standard in dealing with politicians just ahead of election?

It brings to the fore the question whether the CG really wants a free and fair election participated by all or looking for a ‘selection’ in the name of election as alleged recently by BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Observers say a highly politicised administration with anti-BNP functionaries in strategic posts, hostile Election Commission, conspiracies at home and abroad and chasing major politicians at peak election time by the government are some of the biggest threats to the forthcoming election. BNP and Jamat leaders said that they would take their decision whether to take part in election early this week. They further demanded total withdrawal of rule of emergency and delaying of upazila election by at least four weeks after the parliamentary election.

They are also demanding the participation of party leaders to election who have been convicted by the speedy trial courts for different periods. Party leaders say they have filed appeals to higher courts for review of the judgment and have the right to contest the election until final judgments on their prayers were given.

Khelafat Majlish leaders and others meanwhile, blamed the CG, as news reports said, for working on a scheme to bring Awami League to power defeating BNP and its allies.

News report said Sheikh Hasina met senior state department officials last week in Washington as part her preparation for home coming to take part in election. Earlier Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and commerce adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman also met her in the sideline of their Washinton visit last month and exchanged views on forthcoming election and the country’s transition to an elected government.

Now the question is whether the CG can deliver a free, fair and credible election to the nation in the emerging situation. Meanwhile the Election Commission (EC) has announced the polls schedule.

But the STCs, which are part of the emergency power of the CG, is still in place and ‘selectively’ taking renewed hearing of cases threatening scores of ‘disliked’ major political leaders of BNP and Jamat-e-Islami at a time when they are preparing for filing nominations.

Political observers say the STCs and election preparation can not go together. These courts should also close the shutters until after the election. The CG should give clear signals to the nation that its main task is to hold election now, not harassing political leaders with fresh trial.

But belying such sentiment, government attorneys last week filed submission to Speedy Trial Courts to carry out arrest orders issued from the lower court against BNP leader former finance minister M Saifur Rahma, Jamat-e-Islami chief Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and its secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid.

The court has asked these leaders to appear before the designated court and there is a big apprehension that they may be sent to custody at a time when they should have the time and peace of mind to prepare their parties for election.

Moreover, the so-called Boropukuria coal mine case which was earlier shelved by the High Court and released all accused on bail, has been reconstituted by the CG under newly framed allegation to bring the accused to submission.

Responding to government lawyers’ pleas to the STCs for arrest of the frontline BNP and Jamat leaders, the judge of the court at the Jatiya Sangsad premises had asked some of them to surrender before the court immediately. The judge further said he would hold hearing on the submissions on Monday next.

Indications are that he may try to know the signal of the ruling elite in the meantime whether to go for the arrest of those frontline party leaders and put them to custody or act otherwise to keep them free to file election nominations.

Thus the holding of election still remains uncertain although the chief election commissioner (CEC) has already announced the polls schedule.

Hannan Shah’s case

Meanwhile, in a separate development BNP chairperson’s adviser Brig. Gen. Hannan Shah has been sued by Matlab police in Chandpur for taking part at a meeting hosted there by a possible BNP nominee to election.

Police super said he had violated the rule of emergency by taking part in the meeting. Police sued about 200 persons including the host although the event was organised by a charitable organisation for assisting the poor of the locality to help them in their livelihood struggle.

The big question is: What is the government looking for, whether it wants a free, fair and credible election or an election which will bring people of its choice to power. They said the 1/11 change over came on the promise to give the nation a flawless election. Is it on the highway, is the million dollar question at this turning point of our time.

They say the change over was promised to bring qualitative improvement in the country’s politics. But others say it was not achieved and on the contrary proved as a motivated act to reverse the election course that was underway that time.

They said the government can be credited for its anti-corruption crusade but again the arbitrariness with which it was carried out and targeted to a section of political establishment while remaining ‘unmindful’ to some others slowly overshadowed its real praise.

Failure to nab

The worst criticism of the Caretaker Government as observers say may be its failure to nab the criminals who staged the mayhem at the Paltan city centers on October 28, 2006 killing innocent political activists. Although the takeover was justified to cleanse politics, bring qualitative change in political practice and bring reforms to it, the CG’s inaction regarding these matters and bring the killers to justice gives a different signal.

The mid-day mayhem by activists of ‘logi-boitha’ under the command of a major political party and its top leaders had deeply shocked the people of the country and the international community. But it appears that the authorities have decided to ignore it, maybe due to its inability to deal with the issue or for burying further political tension.

But the question remains how this nation can avoid recurrence of such uncivilised incidents. Is there any visible improvement in the country’s political landscape that suggests that such violent activities will not happen again?

As the election is approaching closer, Awami League and its coalition show highly jubilant, while BNP and its allies are weighing the situation. They are blaming lack of a level playing field to take on their opponents under the cover of emergency rule in which the CG is allegedly supportive to it in one hand and their prospective candidates may become easy targets to knock them out of the race on the other.

HOLIDAY > FRONT PAGE

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Meet demands, BNP will run polls: Khaleda

Fri, Nov 7th, 2008 1:36 pm BdST

Chittagong, Nov 7 (bdnews24.com) – BNP will go to the polls if authorities meet the seven-point charter of demands, Khaleda Zia said at a rally on Friday, without ruling out her party joining the Dec.18 general election.

"We want to go to polls but a congenial atmosphere has not yet been created. An environment congenial for a fair election would be created if the seven-point demands are met."

"They say they have accepted all demands but there is no sign of implementaiton," she told a huge public rally organised by local BNP at Laldighi ground.

The speech sounded to be one of election canvassing as she pledged a raft of measures if elected to office for a third term.

She softened her stance on the resignation of the Election Commission hierarchy, saying the present commission was not neutral.

"The previous Election Commission faced much criticism. Now some are saying that election must be held on December 18 even if some parties do not take part in it.

"If so then why the January 22, 2007 election was not held?" she thundered.

She accused the caretaker government of trampling the people's political rights.

"I have come here to reclaim the people's rights snatched in last two years.

"No matter how much conspiracy is webbed, you know what is true and what is false."

She said a level playing field has not been created. "Forty leaders of BNP are still in detention. Does this mean a level playing field has been created?"

Khaleda said she had done no injustice.

"I was confined to the special jail for one year. I don't know why I was kept detained."

"If the country moved ahead in exchange for the injustice done to me I would not have any grievance."

Criticising the caretaker government, she said, "They have turned the country into a bigger jail. People are being intimidated and false cases filed against them."

In an indirect reference to her main political rival Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, she shad, "I did not flee abroad."

"Man makes mistake. We also made mistakes. But our successes outweigh our mistakes," she said.

Khaleda arrived at the Laldighi ground at 4pm after driving to the port city at 1:45pm amid thousands of cheering masses greeting her.

The rally at Laldighi ground formally started at 3pm. Chittagong city BNP convenor former member of parliament Syed Wahidul Alam presided over the rally.

She went directly to the circuit house for rest and refreshments and later exchanged views with the local BNP leaders on a number of issues.

The BNP chief is expected to quell the long-running feud between local BNP's two rival groups led by Abdullah Abu Noman and Mir Nasir Uddin, party sources said.

This is Khaleda's first visit to Chittagong since the current military-installed interim government took power and her release on bail from detention on a slew of graft charges.

The local administration beefed up security ahead of the visit and the public meeting.

Earlier, Khaleda led a huge convoy of hundreds of vehicles packed with the party leaders and workers from Dhaka on way to the port city.

The Chittagong city BNP made massive preparations ahead of the public meeting.

The former prime minister in SSF cordon waved to tens of thousands of her cheering supporters lining both sides of the streets at Farmgate, Naya Paltan, Shapla Chattar, Tikatuly, Saidabad and Jatrabari in the city.

The convoy then passed through the cheering crowds holding banners and festoons at Siddhirgonj, Kanchpur bridge intersection, Meghna bridge, Daudkandi, Gouripur, Ilyotgonj, Chandina, Nimsar Bazaar and Moynamoti along the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

In the morning, she placed wreath at the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman and joined a "National Revolution and Solidarity Day" programme in the capital.

BNP leader former minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told bdnews24.com they were expecting over one lakh people at the gathering.

BNP joint secretary general and member of Chittagong city BNP convenors committee Abdullah Al Noman told bdnews24.com that Laldighi event was being organised to mark the "National Revolution and Solidarity Day".

Khaleda had her last public relations programme on Dhaka-Comilla highway during the campaign for the forestalled Jan. 22, 2007 election.

bdnews24.com/sm/mt/eh/bd/1733hours

<font color=red size=5>Meet demands, BNP will run polls: Khaleda</font> :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Bangladesh ex-PM says poll chief biased, should quit

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh's two main political parties traded accusations on Saturday after former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia accused the election chief of bias and called for his resignation ahead of elections next month.

Her rivals, including the Awami League led by another former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, accused Khaleda of trying to thwart the parliamentary vote, and vowed to foil any "conspiracy" to push the country into prolonged uncertainties.

Khaleda's remarks, made late on Friday at a meeting of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), sparked fresh concern over the election scheduled for December 18 to end nearly two years of emergency rule.

"Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Shamsul Huda is trying to bring a particular party to power through the coming polls. He is not free from bias," Khaleda said.

"A free and fair election is not possible under him. So, he must quit," she said.

Khaleda did not name the party. But analysts said she was pointing her finger at the Awami League.

In a fresh attack on the interim government, Khaleda on Saturday night said it had failed to create "level playing fields" for all parties and create a congenial election atmosphere by ending emergency rule.

"Not only the government but it seems that there are also other groups hatching a conspiracy against people desperately waiting for the election and a quick return to democracy," she said, without naming the groups.

Khaleda said: "The government is holding back many key BNP leaders behind the bars on false charges of corruption and using other ways to harass BNP and its allies.

"Unless they change the attitude immediately, we may choose not to take part in the vote."

The government said Khaleda's allegations were unfounded and could be resolved through dialogue.

"Khaleda Zia is talking rubbish as she knows (that) any fair election would foil her dream to regain power," said Begum Motia Chowdhury, a presidium member of the Awami League.

"The BNP is out to thwart, or at least delay, the election set for Dec. 18," Awami's acting chief Zillur Rahman said on Saturday.

"The new wave of mudslinging shows the parties are yet to break out of their decades-old tradition of acrimony, bad faith, self interest and politics for power only," analyst Professor Ataur Rahman said.

"They are craving for power, not for the good of the country or welfare of its people," Ataur, chairman of the Bangladesh Political Science Association, told Reuters.

Visiting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon hoped the election "will be most fair, objective and credible."

"I hope it can ensure smooth and peaceful transition to democracy," Ban said.

He said it was an opportunity for the country, and in particular for political parties, to address serious problems that had given rise to politics of confrontation and violence.

Bangladesh's military-backed interim government, which launched a campaign against corruption, said it was "not biased towards any party or individual, and only trying to ensure the election is held on time, is free and impartial".

Analysts said Khaleda apparently was incensed over the election chief's remarks that he wanted to make the December election like the one held in 1970 in then-East Pakistan when about 80 percent of the people turned out to vote, the highest ever.

Awami League won and led East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to independence in a nine-month guerrilla war supported by India.

Bangladesh ex-PM says poll chief biased, should quit | Reuters

 

[Prodigy17]

Sounds familiar. Some politician from our country also tied up their arrangements with americans and you know them. The writing is on the wall. Interesting, how back channel politics works.......

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Ensure atmosphere for election: Khaleda

Staff Correspondent

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Friday reiterated her demands to the caretaker government for creating a congenial atmosphere to hold a credible, acceptable and fair parliamentary election by accepting the BNP's seven-point demand.

"We are frequently saying that we want to go for parliamentary election but the atmosphere for holding a national election in free, fair and credible manner is yet to be created. We have placed our seven-point demands. If our demands are met, there will be no bar to our participation in the poll. Although the government assured us that it has accepted our seven-point demand but there is no sign of implementing the demands," Begum Zia said while addressing a mammoth rally at Laldigihi Maidan in Chittagong. Begum Zia's address was aired live through various private television channels.
She said the caretaker government is saying that a level playing field is needed to hold a free, fair and impartial election. "But this field was leveled in such a way that it is pot-holed for one party and plain for another party. So no game can be played in such an uneven field. If you (caretaker government) want to hold credible and acceptable parliamentary election, the field will have to be even enabling all parties to contest the poll," Begum Zia said adding selection cannot be tolerated in the name of election.
Blasting the Election Comm-ission, she said the nation witnessed the role and activities of the commission. "No free, fair and credible election can be held under this Election Commission. Assuring to hold an election like 1970, the Election Commission has proved which party it likes to bring to the power through holding staged election. So what benefit can be gained from the staged election. On the other hand, following the Chief Election Commissioner's comment, confusion and uncertainty prevails about holding of the election. If the election is held under this Election Commission, it would not be a credible and acceptable election" the former Prime Minister said.
The BNP Chairperson alleged that a conspiracy is being hatched to make Bangladesh an ineffective country. "Lives and properties of the people will become insecure if this government continues to rule the country for long. It is now time for election, hold election and hand over power to an elected democratic government."

Referring to Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's comment about holding election on time, Begum Zia said, "I want to ask as to why the parliament election was not held on January 22. A certain political party through vandalism, had created a chaotic situation in the country to foil the parliamentary election on January 22, 2007. That political party had taken the destructive path only to go to power not to do good for the people. The country and its people are not safe under the rule of that political party. We all have to be united to rescue the people from their clutches," BNP Chairperson said.

She said several attempts had been taken in many ways to oust the family members of late President Ziaur Rahman from the country. "Bangladesh is my life and Bangladesh is my death. I will remain in my country until my death. As a mother, sister and friend, I am calling upon the people of the country to remain alert against conspiracy to destroy the country and its democracy. Several attempts were made to oust me from the country when I was behind bars," Begum Zia said.

She said BNP doesn't want to create anarchic and chaotic situation in the country. "The party believes in development, peace and welfare," Begum Zia added.

Earlier in the morning, BNP Chairperson placed floral wreaths and offered prayers at late President Ziaur Rahman's grave from where she started for Chittagong. During her travel from capital Dhaka to Chittagong thousands of activists standing at roadsides welcomed her and chanted slogans.

leading news

 

[BanglaBhoot]

The nice side of democracy

Nov 6th 2008 | DELHI
From The Economist print edition
Shame about the democrats

IN JANUARY 2007 Bangladesh’s generals marched into the palace of President Iajuddin Ahmed and forced him to cancel elections, declare a state of emergency and appoint a government of technocrats. On November 3rd Mr Ahmed at last signed an order sending the army back to the barracks. The interim government also lifted restrictions on political campaigning and the press. Bangladesh’s state of emergency—the longest any South Asian country has endured—seems to be petering out.

So firm are the commitments by the generals to hold parliamentary elections that a return to multiparty democracy appears a certainty. This week the Election Commission confirmed that a general election would be held on December 18th. This followed assurances by the army to the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, on a two-day visit to Dhaka, that this time it would not interfere.

The front-runners in the race to succeed a period of muddled rule by soldiers, spooks and technocrats are the heads of two feuding dynasties whose careers the army tried and failed to end: the former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina Wajed of the Awami League and Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The two women rotated in power for 15 years from 1991. Their mutual hatred and inability to negotiate played a big part in turning Bangladeshi politics into a prolonged cycle of violent retaliation.

Even so, the view of the army, Bangladesh’s foreign aid donors and its voters is now that the “two begums” constitute the only offer on the table. The army tried to send them into exile, hoping new political parties would emerge; then it jailed them and their coteries on charges of corruption. In the end, they were freed on bail. It proved impossible both to hold them to account and to hold elections.

The League is confident it will win the vote. Greeted by large crowds, Sheikh Hasina came back to Bangladesh on November 6th, five months after being freed to receive medical treatment in America. The rival BNP is split and, much harder-hit by the anti-corruption drive, is in a shambles. As the League started its election campaign this week, the BNP was still debating whether to take part. Mrs Zia alleges that the Election Commission favours the League and should resign.

Meanwhile, the army appears to have resigned itself to Sheikh Hasina’s becoming the next prime minister or, at least, contesting the elections. For her part, having narrowly escaped an attempt on her life in 2004, she may feel that only the army can protect her from her political rivals. The generals want their state of emergency legitimised, and immunity from prosecution. These are concessions the League is probably willing to make, if not to advertise.

The court cases against the two prime ministers have in effect been put on hold until the election. If the past is any guide, the next government will control the judiciary, so convictions will never happen. Observers believe that endless behind-the-scenes talks with the leaders, aimed at bringing their parties to the polls, are likely to have included guarantees by the two ladies not to put the losing rival in prison.

Yet, barring upsets, more than 80m Bangladeshis will next month be allowed to choose a government for the first time since 2001. And the election has a better chance of being credible than any since independence in 1971. The Election Commission has purged 12m surplus names from voter lists. The authorities claim the poll will be almost impossible to rig.

What Bangladeshis still do not know is whether the army’s intervention has shocked the country’s squabbling, petty politicians into a new approach. The world’s seventh-most populous country needs a government devoted not to a perennial political vendetta, but to tackling poverty, climate change and terrorism.

Bangladesh's return to democracy | The nice side of democracy | The Economist

 

[Al-zakir]

Let us hope this conspiracy fail badly. This earthworm awami league shuldn't come to power. This dalal make me sick, bro.

 

[HK-47]

given what the BNP had done in the last elected administration AL will be coming to power even if there aren't any conspiracy.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Do you know how much corruption has gone on since 1/11. Do you think the situation has gotten any better after the emergency. This government and some in the army have done exactly what they said would stop after the 1/11 takeover. Exactly how much corruption has been proven against the BNP? Why was not the corrupts in AL arrested such as Tofail Ahmed, Surengit Sengupta and Amir Hossain Amu. Are these people clean? Why did the government spare betrayers like Abdul Mannan and Sadeq Hossain Khoka? This government started to fail when it began to do politics between the two parties. If it had acted neutrally then no problem but it did not. Why was the big corrupt such as Syed Iskander not arrested. This was simply because he gave promotions to Gen. Masud and Gen. Moeen. Is this not hypocrisy? I now here that Gen. Moeen's brother wnats to stand in election as an AL candidate from Noakhali.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Saifur, Nizami, Mojaheed sent to jail

Dhaka, Nov 10 (bdnews24.com) — A special court Monday ordered BNP leader M Saifur Rahman, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed into jail in the Barapukuria coalmine case.

Their lawyers appealed to the judge Amar Kumar Roy to adjourn the hearing and 'uphold' the bails since the High Court was scheduled to give a ruling on Tuesday. But the prosecution said they were not on bail and hence be detained.

Deputy inspector general, prisons, major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told bdnews24.com that the accused were sent to prison at 3:15pm.

Earlier, they arrived in special court on Monday after the High Court had ordered them to surrender to the trial court by Nov. 10.

Hundreds of Jamaat supporters chanting anti-government slogans flooded around the Jatiya Sangsad premises where the special court is located, while Manik Mia Avenue and Rokeya Sarani were closed as part of a tight security cordon around the area.

Nizami was the first to enter the Special Judge's Court-2 in the paeliament complex at around 10am, followed by Mojaheed. Saifur arrived at 11:30am.

The High Court had earlier ordered them to surrender to the trial court by Nov. 10 (Monday).

Lawyers of the accused said their clients would be surrendering as soon as court proceedings began.

Another accused in the case, former energy minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, was sent to jail Sunday after surrendering to the court on Sunday.

bdnews24.com/lh/pc/wz/rah/bd/1528hours

<font color=red size=5>Saifur, Nizami, Mojaheed sent to jail</font> :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[Raquib]

BNP or Awami League...both are no doubt still filled up with corrupted ministers..and many of them getting released day by day from the court one by one... Today, the majority of our population is inflicted with poverty, dying of hunger just because their unlimited greediness...sometimes wish I could finish those traitors off......

 

[BanglaBhoot]

BNP bent on 7 points, not mock election: Delwar

Dhaka, Nov 11 (bdnews24.com) – Any "mock election" without BNP will fetch grave consequences, warned the party's secretary general Khandakar Delwar Hossain on Tuesday.

"We will join the elections only after our seven-point charter of demands are met and any election without BNP will bring about ominous consequences," Delwar said at a 'Solidarity Day' discussion at the National Press Club.

"People won't accept a mock election," he said, maintaining that an equal opportunity for all parties was not being created.

The BNP leader pointed his finger at "a party", which the government was trying to put in power, he alleged.

He called upon the authorities to reinstate 'Solidarity Day' on Nov 7 as an official holiday along with May 30 to mark former president Ziaur Rahman's death anniversary.

The discussion was organised by Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal and attended by former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman, BNP office secretary Rizvi Ahmed, and Jubo Dal and Mohila Dal leaders among others.

bdnews24.com/sm/mt/rah/1907hours

BNP bent on 7 points, not mock election: Delwar :: Politics :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Stage-managed poll to take AL to power?

Faruque Ahmed

HOLIDAY - November 14, 2008

The highway to election is slowly rolling towards a 'global highway' skidding from the local roads and the nation's heartland. All indications suggest that this time it may be an election in which nationalist and Islamic forces may be drastically cornered for bringing victory to a certain political party backed by external forces.

Observers say, to keep the BNP, the Jamat-e-Islami and other nationalist forces out of the election races the Caretaker Government (CG) and the Election Commission (EC) are allegedly acting in unison in a biased manner just to compel them to take decision against going to the polls.

In the first place, the CG is not fully removing the Emergency Powers Rules nor is it creating a level playing field for these parties to contest the polls. The BNP's 25 important central leaders are behind the bar now, compared to none from the Awami League who are vital for election. In addition, as against BNP's 65 arrested leaders now Awami League has only 10.

Moreover, the EC's latest rule that the media shall not be allowed to break or release election result until it is announced by the candidates only deepens parties' apprehension that this election is going to be a stage-managed one.

The EC's right to expel any candidate from election race any time on a slight ground of violating election rules is yet another dangerous issue making this election unpredictable, critics say.

When all these are happening in the name of a free, fair and credible election, the global community including the United Nations, however, appears lending full support to such activities without asking the CG to act appropriately.

In such a situation Awami Lague seems to be quite eager to go to the polls as soon as possible, even with emergency rules in force in some form. Obliquely referring to the BNP its leaders are saying, they do not bother if any party is going to polls or not, they would not tolerate delay in the December 18 election.

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain reacted to such comments last week saying, Awami League is behaving in a manner as if it is already in power. He said the BNP and its four-party allies are watching the situation. They say they are ready to take part in election if the CG accepts BNP's seven-point demands to create favourable election environment for all the parties of the country. Meanwhile, the EC announced its new election schedules that are half way through to its last date.

Analysts are of the opinion that this is unexpected, and in many ways a shocking development to find that Bangladesh election this time has become more of a concern of certain global powers than the local electorates.

As things are taking a new turn, the country's election landscape appears dramatically shifting its epicenter from a domestic agenda of electing democratic leadership to a matter of leadership choice by certain global powers.

Dress rehearsal

The December 18 election, say analysts, has been set in a way to demonstrate that Bangladesh is going to make a transition to an elected government. But practically it looks like a dress rehearsal to pick some people to power who would be acceptable to international lobbies having vital interest in the country's hydrocarbon resources, its major infrastructures and strategic location to stall its growth dynamics keeping it divided and fighting from within in the name of fighting the so-called Islamic fundamentalism.

In other words, Bangladesh may be slowly emerging as a client state in the ever growing map of fighting the so-called global terrorism. Observers say the Awami League election strategists and its allies in the left may have made it the easiest exploit to certain global powers that the presence of BNP in power in coalition with Islamic parties like Jamat-e-Islami would only create an environment to strengthen the national and patriotic spirits that do not support undue interference of the Western domination.

It is a fact that BNP-Jamat government crushed Sheikh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai and their emerging fanatic forces and their top leaders were put to gallows. In fact, the whole global geo-political perspectives are now contrary to political Islam not only in terms of achieving economic prosperity but also to building sustainable democracy and its institutions.

Rule by puppet

As part of it, the Muslim world is now witnessing several wars at different locations where the core issue is to crush nationalism and political Islam and replace it by Western puppets. After Palestine and Iraq, it is destroying Pakistan and is on the way to opening new front in Bangladesh, although the country is known as a liberal democracy. Analysts wonder, Bangladesh may become volatile very soon.

Critics say, those quarters acted for Awami League and even condoned its 2007 October 28 mid-day mayhem at Purana Paltan city centre which killed at least half a dozen political activists mainly belonging to Jamat-e-Islami. And the grotesque incident drew global condemnation.

They successfully installed a new Caretaker Government, mainly made of former World Bank functionaries. The UN representative in Dhaka that time even went to the extent of distorting the Secretary General's massage to the Chief Adviser adding two more sentences aimed at prompting the armed forces to oust the then civilian caretaker government.

It was from that time the country has lost control over its politics and deciding the fate of its own. The holding of the forthcoming election after two years of home work this time has thus a new political landscape carefully crafted to benefit particular political camp.

To crate this situation, critics say, attempts were made to destroy BNP and deny registration to Jamat-e-Islami and other Islamic parties. As part of it, their top party leaders were put to jail. Even last week the Jamat chief and its secretary general were put to jail along with former finance minister BNP leader Saifur Rafman on certain framed up charges. The same charge was earlier shelved and the accused were put on bail by high court.

Analysts point to two contrasting trends of the forthcoming election. The first one is that Begum Khaleda Zia is joining the polls on release from jail, albeit on bail. On the other hand, Sheikh Hasina has backed from USA after a prolonged stay to take part in the polls and give leadership to her party.

Before returning home Hasina met senior US state department officials in Washington and press reports said she exchanged views on election and her future agenda of action. Sheikh Hasina, though set free on parole, visited many western capitals over the past four months and met government leaders, politicians, functionaries of World Bank and other agencies selling her politics.

Even last week, Indian High Commissioner met her for almost two hours and press report quoted party spokesman as saying it was a courtesy call and he went to know about her health.

Begum Zia on her part said, she has no home abroad and therefore, she also resisted the CG's move for going abroad. At a huge rally last week in Chittagong, she warned of international conspiracies against the country and called upon the people to rise and protect the nation's sovereignty and democracy. The next election should be fought to save the nation, she said.

She warned of conspiracy against national resources and asked the common people and soldiers to forge unity against such conspiracies. She accused the EC of working for a particular party and demanded the reconstitution of the EC to deliver a free, fair and credible election to be participated by all.

Some senior Awami League leaders met several European Parliament lawmakers in the recent past in Brussels and discussed election politics. Earlier people belonging to the same camp arranged hearing in the US Congress and European Parliament on several occasions on Bangladesh's so-called religious extremism seeking ouster of BNP and support for Awami Lague to come to power. Such interactions also took place in London.

Another interesting event happened on Sheikh Hasina's return home. The CG has withdrawn the toll collection case that was filed by business tycoon Noor Ali against her, although the CG earlier forced him to lodge the case. Hasina on her own indicated she would give indemnity to the CG if elected to power.

However, there is no such indication of an end to court action and harassment against BNP and Jamat leaders.

Referring to Awami League's demand that it does not bother who takes part and who keeps absent from election, Begum Zia reminded the people and the international community that if it were the case, then why the January 22 election was postponed to take Awami League on board . There can not be double standard, she warned.

About globalisation of the country's election politics, analysts warned of critical days are ahead. This is how Iraq and Afghanistan were destroyed, Pakistan is getting into deeper troubles and Bangladesh should learn from it. They said, external forces and local power mongers may play dirty games, but people must get alert and foil it through democratic process.

HOLIDAY > FRONT PAGE

 

[T-Rex]

The present CEC of Bangladesh must go before there can be a free and fair election. So far he has been working to make the forthcoming general election free and fair only for for Awami League and its allies and at the expense of BNP. This man is doing everything not for democracy, as he claims, but to bring Awami League to power. He is biased, he is shameless and for these reasons he is a crook.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

I agree with you. I wonder why BNP alliance not making this more of an issue. The CEC must resign for free, fair and credible elections to happen.