The Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal will meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin on November 5 regarding the announcement of the election schedule. Country’s 12th general election is likely to be held in the first week of January 2024. The Election Commission has Constitutional obligation in holding the elections in specific timeframe.
So, now all eyes from around the country are trained on the Election Commission, CEC and commissioners with the 12th parliamentary polls approaching nearer. To achieve a culture of peoples’ trust, the commission led by CEC Kazi Habibul Awal is doing the best that how and in what way they will tackle the country’s all political parties smoothly amid challenges.
The Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is determined to hold a free, fair and credible election in Bangladesh. The government has done everything required to hold a fair election that includes introducing a voter list with photographs and transparent ballot boxes as none can manipulate the polls.
The schedule of the 12th national election will be finalised at that meeting. Returning officers will also be appointed then. The CEC will then announce the schedule of the general election through an address to the nation on Bangladesh Television in the second week of this month.
According to the commission, the political parties have various options. They can participate in the elections or not. They can contest 300 seats individually or they can join polls under alliances. There are various options for the political parties but the EC has no option.
We hope country’s all political parties will participate in the next general elections and create such an environment favorable for polls. The commission will hold a dialogue with 44 registered political parties, on November 4 while the dialogue will be held in two phases on the same day.
We hope the country’s
all political parties
will participate in the next general elections
The CEC and commissioners constantly keep in mind that the public confidence in each step of an electoral process of the next general election is very important and critical to the integrity and credibility of the poll. But, like in the past, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is daydreaming for re-installation of the interim or caretaker government provision in the Constitution but all know that their dream will never be fulfilled.
On the other hand, country’s peace loving people and pro-liberation forces want to get rid of the curse of frequent terror acts patronised by what they say ‘BNP-Jamaat clique’. We believe our country is now a safe haven for all people irrespective of caste, creed, and religious affinity as democracy is praclised here.
We think no benefit will come through carrying out arson terrorism as the people have already rejected those particular terrorist groups. All hope that BNP would participate in the next general elections as the existence of the party is on the verge of extinction.
So, as the commission will be moving forward in line with this roadmap in order to present a participatory and good election, all political parties should provide their all-out support to it. If anyone tries to create chaos or launch arson attacks in the country in order to foil the next national elections, they should not be spared. Country’s people expect that the next general elections should be held in a free, fair, neutral and peaceful manner with the participation of all parties. In this regard, all political parties should assure of extending all-out support to the commission in holding free, fair and participatory elections.
We believe people will cast their vote in favour of the respective candidates in Bangladesh. And this is the democratic trend, and it will continue here.
The political parties which believe in democracy and peace and nurture the spirit and ideals of the Great Liberation War will contest next polls. It is known to all AL is always an election-oriented democratic party, which believes in election to change the government.
Therefore, all have to get united and stay alert in order to thwart the constant conspiracies of the evil forces that have moved to foil the next national poll.