Elections Under Threat
Dhaka
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said that democracy is yet to be restored in the country and expressed doubts about the possibility of free and fair elections. Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday, BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned that the struggle to restore democracy may require “crossing a more dangerous path.” He said party leaders and activists are prepared for the challenges ahead.
Rizvi added that conspiracies and “master plans” are being discussed, raising fears about election credibility. Senior BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan also rejected calls by some parties to adopt a proportional representation (PR) system for the next national elections, calling the proposal “unrealistic and suspicious.” He said constitutional amendments would be needed for such a system, which cannot be introduced before the upcoming polls.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly pushed for PR in both houses of parliament and threatened to launch a movement if the demand is ignored. Political tensions have grown as interim Law Advisor Asif Nazrul reiterated that general elections will be held in February next year, despite opposition concerns. However, the National Citizen Party (NCP) recently said reforms must be completed before any credible polls take place.
Bangladesh remains gripped by political uncertainty since the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in violent protests last year. The opposition forces that joined hands with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to remove Hasina are now divided over reforms and election timelines, raising further doubts about political stability in the months ahead.
