The political deadlock we find ourselves in has been festering in the background for a very long time. The ruling party's expected opposition for BNP's demand for an election-time nonpartisan interim government is escalating the situation to the brink of chaos. And yet, we see no visible attempts at dialogue or de-escalation from either side.

In fact, it may be fair to say that there doesn't seem to be much thought or tact behind the ruling party's actions at all. Whether it be an acute case of groupthink or a desperate attempt to maintain party control, the current AL rhetoric seems almost entirely aimed at their dedicated supporter base. They seem to be ignoring the fact that a large segment of voters will not be loyal to any one party, instead opting to vote strategically depending on current circumstances and future predictions. In political science, these voters are called "swing voters." We are a two-party state for all practical purposes, and so who the winner will be almost always comes down to who can turn the most swing votes on Election Day. Needless to say, expecting to turn swing votes based on voters' sense of gratitude for past development work is not a savvy political strategy to build a campaign on.

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Politicians must give dialogue a chance

The true fuel behind BNP's current momentum is the wide-scale public disapproval of the government's handling of rampant corruption, misuse of law, and general disregard for human rights. However, instead of trying to win back the trust of those who have become disillusioned, the incumbents seem to only be responding with force projection. The turnouts at the opposition's rallies clearly indicate a large voter base who disapprove of the current regime's policies and actions. But is the current regime even listening to them? The time is now ripe for targeted policy reforms and proactive public statements that address the main concerns of all people of Bangladesh. Instead of doing any of that, AL has allowed the opposition party to dictate the narrative. The AL response to the BNP rhetoric (of restoring voting rights to the common people) has been to try and paint the BNP as a party of "terrorists" who are apparently only concerned with the destruction of Bangladesh. This, of course, is a total political non sequitur, which does not resonate with the demands of the common people at all. Labelling the other side as "evil" is undoubtedly a worrisome course of action for the future of a democratic nation.

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For every rally, there is a counter-rally

Awami League has to bite the bullet and admit that there are serious concerns in people's minds about whether a free and fair election is impossible under any one political party. Historical precedent is not on their side. However, it must be stated firmly that this is not the issue of any particular political party in Bangladesh. It is an issue for every single political party in Bangladesh. Despite the hollow claims made by our ministers during meetings with foreign diplomats, the truth of the matter is that, for the last decade, democracy has not been an option on the ballot table. Right now, as the system stands, the people of the Republic of Bangladesh have no real choice regarding who gets to be their leader. All political parties of our great nation have under-delivered on the promise of a democratic Bangladesh, which our heroic freedom fighters had fought and died for. Instead of delivering on democracy and the rule of law, those who were and have been in power opted to bend the laws and make new laws, all to ensure that their political party could remain in power at the time. Therefore, even if BNP manages to get elected in the next term, if this issue remains unresolved, they too will face this roadblock and the people of Bangladesh will suffer.

One of the key reasons so many developed nations are expressing interest in Bangladesh's election is because they are assessing whether Bangladesh is truly stable and democratic enough to be considered for greater roles in the UN mechanism, as well as on the world stage. With multiple high-level visits from the US, an EU election exploratory mission, and election-related observations from all our biggest Western investors and development partners, these matters did not take shape in a vacuum. The world is keeping an eye on Bangladesh.

For there to be actual change, there needs to be a drastic overhaul of the system. And the change must start with the way elections are held. History has shown that technocrats and intellectuals alone cannot restore democracy in our nation. The will to restore democracy must be political, and it must stem from the people. For democracy to exist, the people need to demand it without fear, and politicians must be held accountable for whatever promises they make. And if politicians fail, they must account for their failure in the halls of our democratic institutions. Violence, rebellion, and uprisings cannot be the ways to take back power.

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Column by Mahfuz Anam: Our political culture – you reap what you sow

Unfortunately, our history so far shows that major political shifts have only occurred as a result of violent uprisings on the streets. How can this be the precedent for a modern democratic Bangladesh that aims to step out of the third world and begin to chart a course towards the first? One of the key reasons so many developed nations are expressing interest in Bangladesh's election is because they are assessing whether Bangladesh is truly stable and democratic enough to be considered for greater roles in the UN mechanism, as well as on the world stage. With multiple high-level visits from the US, an EU election exploratory mission, and election-related observations from all our biggest Western investors and development partners, these matters did not take shape in a vacuum. The world is keeping an eye on Bangladesh.

The Awami League has a real opportunity to set Bangladesh on the right track. Changes to the term limit and the introduction of a bicameral parliament can easily be preemptively executed by the ruling party, which would not only deflate a significant portion of the momentum behind the BNP's demands, but would also send a message that they are listening to the people. Compromise can be a crucial first step in the dialogue process and can bring about positive change. However, this cannot take place if politics devolves into primitive stick fights on the streets. It is high time for politicians to put down the sticks and start talking compromise, for all our sake.

Zillur Rahman is the executive director of the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and a television talk show host. His Twitter handle is @zillur

As an independent chairman candidate in the ongoing Union Parishad polls, she does not want any extra favour; rather her only expectation from the Election Commission (EC) is fair polls.

However, Momtaz Parvin has enough reasons to be worried over the UP polls, which have already witnessed deadly violence in the previous four phases. She fears her rival candidate may unleash terror and occupy polling stations on the election day on May 28.

"I just want a peaceful atmosphere where voters will get equal chance to cast their votes fearlessly,” said Momtaz Parvin, who is contesting at Bhawal union under Saltha upazila in Faridpur.

She was talking to The Daily Star at the EC Secretariat yesterday after filing an application with the commission seeking necessary steps to ensure a congenial atmosphere for fair polling.

“Supporters of my rival candidate are intimidating voters and planning to hire armed criminals on the voting day to occupy poll centres. I want the commission to take necessary measures to prevent any such misdeeds,” she said.

Not only Parvin, demands for fair and peaceful polls are getting louder from many other candidates.

The four phases of polls, which were held in between March 22 and May 8, were marred by massive violence and irregularities. Around 84 people were killed and 6,000 injured due to violence.

Several candidates are now lobbying hard to ensure peaceful and fair voting in the next phases.

“Supporters of my rival candidates are regularly making showdown brandishing arms to intimidate voters,” said Sultan Khan, an independent candidate of Bharara UP under Sadar upazila in Pabna.

“I have already talked to the district election officer and the upazila election officer and will submit a written application to the deputy commissioner requesting necessary steps for peaceful voting on June 4,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Even the ruling Awami League-nominated chairman candidates in a number of UPs are in fear of violence and irregularities.

Abul Khayer Mohammad Ali Khokon, an AL-nominated chairman candidate of Guagachiya UP under Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj, has sought additional security in polling stations fearing violence and irregularities.

Three polling stations in that UP have been dubbed as most vulnerable and might be occupied by rival candidates, Khokon said in an application to the EC yesterday.

“I strongly demand deployment of magistrates and mobile teams of law enforcers round the clock at the centres,” the application read.

Local sources said an influential AL leader of Munshiganj is blessing an independent candidate in Guagachiya UP that will go to polls on May 28.

Saidur Rahman, a BNP-nominated chairman aspirant of Tajpur UP under Singra upazila in Natore, has meanwhile filed an appeal with the EC demanding deployment of army during the polls.

Elections to 725 UPs were held on March 22 in the first phase, 639 UPs on March 31 in the second phase, 615 UPs on April 23 in the third phase and 703 UPs on May 8 in the fourth phase.

Besides, polls to 733 UPs are slated for May 28 in the fifth phase and 724 on June 4 in the sixth phase.

Rebel candidates were responsible for the deadly violence during the recently held Union Parishad (UP) elections, law minister told the parliament today.

The incidents of violence took place in some parts of the country because of “intolerance” among rival candidates of the same political parties, Anisul Huq also said while replying to the lawmakers’ queries.

Anisul, who is also in-charge of the Election Commission in the parliamentary affairs, however, said the elections to 4,104 UPs, beginning from its first phase to the sixth phase, were held amid fierce competition.

According to media reports, the staggered UP elections, held between March 22 and June 4, was marred by violence that left over 126 people dead and thousands of others injured across the country. In most cases, those resorting to violence and also the victims of violence were from the AL, according to media reports.

The law minister’s comments came days after the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad blamed social instability and rigid stances of union parishad polls candidates for the election violence.

“Unrest is witnessed at every layer of our society and this is one of the major causes for the poll violence … we have to bring a change in our social concept,” Rakibuddin said at the post-polls press conference on June 4 at the EC Secretariat when asked who was responsible for the deaths of over 100 people during the union parishad polls.

Today, the law minister in a scripted answer said an executive magistrate conducted mobile court regularly to maintain the election code of conduct after the announcement of the polls schedules.

Besides, three more executive magistrates and a judicial magistrate were deployed in each upazila two days before balloting and two days after the election, he said.

On elections day a 20-member team of law enforcement agencies were deployed at each polling station while a 21-member one at each vulnerable one, he added.

As violence continued with each phase of the Union Parishad polls gone by, the Election Commission has asked the home ministry to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the next phases.

“Maintaining law and order as well as ensuring voters' security, especially minorities', are the prime pre-requisites for free, fair, impartial and peaceful elections,” said the EC in a letter to the home secretary on Sunday.

“The letter has been sent to remind them [ministry officials] of their duties during elections. Their cooperation is very crucial for fair polls,” said EC Secretary Sirazul Islam.

The EC wrote the letter against the backdrop of violence and irregularities that took place centering on the four phases of UP elections between March 22 and May 7. 

Arresting criminals, recovering arms, curbing violence, increasing police patrol and ensuring voters' security are necessary for ensuring a congenial atmosphere for the next phases, it said.

At least 71 people were killed and some 6,000 injured in violence over UP polls until May 4, according to Shushashoner Jannoy Nagorik (Shujan), a citizens' platform for good governance.

Thirteen others were killed in violence as of yesterday from last Thursday, according to The Daily Star findings.

Referring to media reports and field-level findings, the EC in the letter stated that violence had increased with time. Some have been killed and some injured; arson attacks, vandalism and looting took place. In some cases, minorities have come under attacks.

Allegations have been raised against supporters of some candidates of preventing their rivals from submitting nomination papers and intimidating rival candidates. There are even accusations against some law enforcers and other “responsible” field-level officials of favouring particular candidates or remaining inactive when irregularities took place.

Many think that violence has increased because listed criminals are at large and no stern action has been taken against arms-bearers, the EC said in the letter signed by its Deputy Secretary Farhad Ahmad Khan.

The EC asked the home ministry to “intensively” monitor activities of law enforcers and to issue directives to law enforcement agencies and field-level officials to ensure peaceful polls.

Violence has continued since the schedule of the first phase was announced in February. 

Following widespread violence in the first and second phase polls, the EC on April 13 held an emergency meeting with top-level officials of law enforcement agencies and paramilitary forces to discuss the law and order situation.

But that hardly brought any change in the third and fourth phases.

During the latest polls on May 8, the EC suspended voting at 51 polling stations for irregularities.

At Jugirhat Hossenia Hafezia Madrasa polling centre in Munshirhat UP, it suspended the voting because of illegal stuffing of ballot boxes.

On Sunday, the commission asked the returning officer (RO) of the UP under Chauddagram upazila of Comilla to file a case against a presiding officer and an assistant presiding officer for their involvement in stuffing ballot boxes.

It also asked the RO to take necessary measures for suspending a police officer for his “negligence in duties” when criminals were carrying out the illegal act.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations, including Governance Advocacy Forum and Shujan questioned the UP polls due to widespread violence and irregularities.

A deputy secretary of the EC said that in many cases field-level officials temporarily appointed for election duties had not properly informed the EC of the irregularities that took place.

Elections to 725 UPs were held on March 22 in the first phase, 639 UPs on March 31 in the second phase, 615 UPs on April 23 in the third phase and 703 UPs on May 7 in the fourth phase.

Polls to 733 UPs are scheduled for May 28 in the fifth phase and 724 on June 4 in the sixth phase.