BNP has made a political mistake. They demanded the enactment of the Election Commission (EC) law. And the government has done it.
BNP did not take into consideration that Parliament exists and it was in session. As per demand of the BNP, the government passed the EC law in Parliament with some amendments suggested by the BNP lawmakers. Now the BNP has fallen into troubles of its own creation.
But the law should not be a cause for woes of the BNP as the government through enactment of this law has taken further steps towards institutionalization of democracy.
BNP repeatedly demanded the enactment of the EC law only with a motive to hang the total process of election. But BNP’s design to create obstacle for the government has boomeranged on itself as it has no other stratagem or trick left in its hand for driving the government into an awkward corner.
BNP on different pretexts did not join the discussion on the reformation of the EC held by President. It was the part of lame excuses that BNP find to boycott election. But the Awami League with Sheikh Hasina joined the President’s discussion. The AL never boycotted any election-either legal or illegal- in order to maintain constitutional continuity.
The enactment of the EC law has been acclaimed as a good job done by the government from different quarters from home and abroad as the law will pave the way for a smooth election. The EU has hailed the decision of the government to invite poll observers from abroad
It can be recalled that European ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whitely very recently said he did not see any sign that the decision on US sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was having an impact on European business interest in Bangladesh or their desire to take that business forward.
He said that business is business and they (investors) pay attention to whether they can make money in the country and whether there are attractive business climates.
He was speaking to reporters at a programme at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) in the capital.
He said what matters to businesses is to do their business in a "good, clean and fair way" with a level playing field.
He did not comment on the sanctions imposed by the US, saying that is a matter for the United States. "But of course, we, as you know, follow these developments closely. We, as the European Union, conduct our own policy on human rights and have our own engagement. So, I wouldn't comment further on how the US chooses to conduct its foreign policy."
Regarding Bangladesh's next general election, the envoy appreciated the government's "very open approach" towards foreign observers. He said the EU was keen to follow the polls closely.
"I would say we very much welcomed the statement by the foreign minister [AK Abdul Momen] the other day where he said Bangladesh would welcome- and have an open approach to any foreign observation missions that would wish to come and follow the elections," Whiteley said.