With their conflicting remarks, four ministers have caused confusion about whether BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia can engage in politics.

Law Minister Anisul Huq began it all on Sunday when he said there was no legal bar to Khaleda getting involved in politics again but wondered whether her poor health would even allow her to do so.

Yesterday, he again said that even though there is no bar to Khaleda engaging in politics, people think she practically cannot do so as she is sick.

She, however, cannot take part in the election as she is convicted, he reiterated.

"You will have to understand what the real situation is. It has been stated in the application submitted by her brother for her release from jail that she was seriously ill and her life would be in jeopardy if she was not given better treatment," the law minister said.

The former prime minister was convicted and imprisoned in a corruption case in 2018. She was released in March 2020 with an executive order and on condition that she would not leave the country and must receive medical treatment in the country.

Agriculture Minister and AL Presidium Member Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday echoed the law minister and said Khaleda could run her party and direct party activists even from jail.

However, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday contradicted the law and agriculture ministers and said Khaleda could not engage in politics due to the conditions for her release.

"Considering her age and health issues, she was released and allowed to stay home on conditions. As per the conditions, she cannot take part in politics," he said while talking to reporters at his secretariat office.

"Anyone sentenced to two or more years cannot take part in elections as per the law of Bangladesh. Khaleda Zia has been sentenced to more than two years. So, there is no question of her participating in elections," he said.

The confusion was further fuelled by Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader who made contradictory comments within two days.

On February 20, he said the BNP chief must follow the conditions of her release if she wants to get involved in politics.

Then yesterday, Qauder said that as a convicted person, there is no scope for Khaleda to get involved in politics.

"Has Khaleda Zia been relieved from her sentence? She is convicted. Has she been released [from jail]?" he said.

"Had she not been sick, she would have been in jail. So where is the opportunity [for her] to get involved in politics?" he said while addressing a meeting of the AL and its associate bodies.

All four ministers, however, have said that she cannot run for office.

The phenomenon of high-ranking bureaucrats joining political parties after retirement is a matter of concern for many citizens. This is because it raises questions about their true loyalty and the integrity of the bureaucracy. When individuals are appointed to serve in government positions, they take an oath to serve the people and uphold the law. However, if they join a political party immediately after retirement, it sends a message that their loyalty may have been divided all along, and that, while serving in the bureaucracy, they may have worked in favour of a certain section of people in power or from within the power structure. And not only that, their subordinates may have also done the same.

To better understand the phenomenon, let us look at the Gaibandha-5 by-election.

The events surrounding the Gaibandha-5 by-election have raised concerns about the integrity of the country's institutions – particularly the Election Commission (EC). The Chief Election Commissioner expressed his frustration with the widespread irregularities that occurred during the by-election, stating that "elections [were] now out of control." The EC suspended the election and announced that it would take legal action against 134 public officials, including a returning officer, one additional deputy commissioner, one executive magistrate, 126 presiding officers, and five sub-inspectors for their involvement in the irregularities.

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The reason behind taking such an action is simple: these officials did not act as they were supposed to under oath.

During an election, the civil administration, including the bureaucracy and police, are mandated by law to serve under the direct control of the EC. The EC relies on their integrity to successfully hold a free and fair election. However, during the Gaibandha-5 by-election, the opposite occurred. Officials acted as if they were not under oath and did not provide their allegiance to the Commission, resulting in widespread irregularities.

The fact that public officials acted against their oath raises concerns about who they were serving; the people they were supposed to serve under oath, or the party they are associated with? The aftermath of the by-election sends a negative message to the people, creating doubts about the integrity of these officials and the institutions they serve.

The erosion of institutional integrity is a significant issue. It is leading to a loss of faith in the democratic process of the country. When we lose confidence in the integrity of institutions, we become disillusioned with the democratic process

It is not surprising that the EC has not yet taken visible actions against the public officials. The EC is reliant on the civil administration's cooperation, and without it, the Commission cannot act. Unfortunately, this situation is not unique to Bangladesh, and it is not uncommon for public officials to act against their oath, especially when there is political pressure.

The erosion of institutional integrity is a significant issue. It is leading to a loss of faith in the democratic process of the country. When we lose confidence in the integrity of institutions, we become disillusioned with the democratic process. The second round of the Gaibandha-5 constituency election, held on January 3 with only 35 percent voter turnout, and the EC's shift from "out of control" to "fair, disciplined and peaceful manner", proved that people's participation no longer matters. The ruling party candidate won the by-election.

There was a time when nothing could stop people from exercising their voting rights. Blaming the cold for the lower turnout is perhaps nothing but covering up the weaknesses of the constitutional institutions.

All citizens have a responsibility to vote. Even if the outcome seems predetermined, it is essential to exercise the right to vote and make one's voice heard. It is only by participating in the democratic process that citizens can ensure that their elected officials are held accountable and that institutions remain independent and free from political pressure.

The EC is a constitutional body in Bangladesh. Our constitution has awarded the EC with absolute power to control and direct the civil administration during elections. But this is rendered meaningless if the civil administration does not cooperate with the EC, but ends up doing the opposite.

The events surrounding a few recent parliamentary by-elections and local government elections serve as a warning about the erosion of our institutional integrity. What happened after the local government elections was even worse – several elected representatives, including a freedom fighter, were sacked from their positions on questionable grounds.

Their termination was imminent as they had gone against the candidates nominated by their party, won the election, and faced non-cooperation from the civil administration at the local level. Compared to others, the freedom fighter was fortunate enough to get his position back – thanks to a court ruling declaring his termination illegal.

So, can the EC hold a free and fair national election? Under the prevailing conditions, it is nearly impossible. Why? With only nine months left before the national election, the law ministry is still sitting on the EC's proposal to amend the Representation of the People Order, 1972, the regulating law of the national election. It is mentioned under Article 126 of the constitution that it shall be the duty of all executive authorities to assist the EC in the discharging of its functions.

Can the EC do anything if the executive authorities feel that these are just words written on a piece of paper? It cannot.

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These precedents will continue to have serious implications for the integrity of the bureaucracy and the legitimacy of the government's actions. Bureaucracy, civil administration, and law enforcement agencies need to remain impartial and serve the public interest, rather than aligning themselves with political parties.

Much of Bangladesh's recent economic slump is due to public funds being used to benefit mid- and high-ranking executive officials, further exacerbating inequality. But it has worked well in terms of winning their loyalty and confidence for the ruling party, with overall negative consequences for the people and the economy.

Meer Ahsan Habib is a Hubert Humphrey Fellow at Arizona State University. His Twitter handle is @meeriyadh

The main purpose of various ministers' conflicting statements about whether BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia could engage in politics was to divert attention from BNP's ongoing movement, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Fakhrul said despite this attempt to "create confusion", the party's focus remains on its 10-point demand.

"Begum Zia is ill. Even today [Monday] she will go to the hospital for a health checkup. These [ministers' statements] are being said to create confusion between our party and the people. Besides, a section of the government wants to show the people that they are allowing Khaleda Zia to do politics. Another part says she can't do politics…"

Between February 19 and 23, four ministers -- Law Minister Anisul Huq, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque and Information Minister Hasan Mahmud -- came out with conflicting statements on Khaleda's participation in politics.

After the law minister said there was no legal bar on Khaleda from engaging in politics, Quader and Mahmud said she could not engage in politics as she was convicted in a corruption case. Razzaque, meanwhile, echoed the law minister and said she could engage in politics.

All four, however, maintained that the former prime minister could not contest elections, as she was convicted.

"Our main issue is the 10-point demand, including a non-party caretaker government," Fakhrul told The Daily Star today. "They are creating this confusion to divert the discussion from this issue. If this confusion can be created, the government will benefit.

"They should talk about how to form a caretaker government, how to form a neutral government, how to hold a neutral election.""The character of Awami League that existed before the Liberation War is no longer there. Even the democratic position that the party had before 2007 is not there. It has completely become a dictatorship. They are in power and are trying to use that power to wipe out and eliminate opposition."

Placing emphasis on the party's 10-point demand, Mirza Fakhrul said, "We want a meaningful and fair election with the participation of all, which is not possible under the Awami League government. Therefore, elections should be held under a neutral government."

Asked what BNP would do if there is no caretaker government, as AL leaders including Quader have asserted, Fakhrul said, "We will fulfil the demand through agitation. No movement has seen success overnight. We have come a long way."

About BNP's ongoing movement, he said, "Our [road] march is very successful. Obstacles are coming FROM everywhere, but the movement is getting stronger with the spontaneous participation of the people. We are conducting all our movements peacefully and will continue do so.

"Despite their provocations, we ourselves have not broken the peace anywhere. We have not carried out any programme where there was a possibility of breach of peace."

"The Awami League have been conducting counter-programmes and creating conflict. The police are firing at our movement … Awami league, Chhatra League are attacking. So far, 17 BNP leaders and activists have been killed. And the biggest weapon they have always used is filing numerous false cases.

"But people can't be stopped. In every part of the country, people are coming out of their homes to join the movement," he added.

About Awami League's allegation that BNP engages in terrorism, Fakhrul said, "It is a lie. No point of making allegations; you have to prove it. None of the allegations against us in 2013-14 are true. In 2018, they used the state, carried out terrorism, false cases and conducted one-sided elections. Our intellectuals, media are not able to catch them. I know why it can't. There are various pressures, pressure is being put on the media, self-censorship has come among them.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has thanked the protesting students and people for toppling the Awami League government, and urged them to set aside their thirst for revenge.

She also urged everyone to be patient, the party's secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told The Daily Star over phone this morning.

He met Khaleda at the capital's Evercare Hospital around 12:00pm yesterday.

"I saw her after a long time. She seemed sound in mind; however, she looked a little tired," said Fakhrul.

"The BNP chairperson has received her passport. The government was making it difficult for her to access it for days. We are preparing to take her abroad for better treatment. However, her doctors here have not yet permitted her to fly. Nevertheless, they are monitoring her condition, and arrangements will be made as soon as we get their clearance," he added.

Khaleda's treatment location is yet to be determined, mentioned Fakhrul.

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Asked whether Khaleda observed the recent political reformation, Fakhrul said she observed and knows the whole matter.

"She has thanked the students and people of this country for toppling the autocratic Awami League regime. She also urged all to be patient and remain calm," mentioned Fakhrul, adding that the people have to keep their urge for revenge aside and unitedly concentrate on rebuilding this country.

As per Fakhrul, the BNP chair has assured of protecting temples and other places of worships countrywide.

"She said the party has decided that Chhatra and Jubo Dal will not be involved in any attacks on minorities. Instead, they will play an important role in securing them," shared Fakhrul.

She hoped for the situation to normalise soon -- the students returning to classes, the selection of a government of the people's choice, and the reemergence of the trend of fair politics, concluded Fakhrul.

BNP's rally demanding the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's immediate and unconditional release started in front of the party's central office in Nayapaltan this afternoon.

The rally started around 2:40pm with a recitation from the Holy Quran, reports our correspondent from the spot

This is the first major programme organised by the BNP in nearly eight months.

A temporary stage has been set up in front of the party office.

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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the chief guest of the rally, joined the programme along with other central leaders of the party.

The party's leaders and activists have taken positions in and around the Nayapaltan headquarters since noon.

Meanwhile, a large number of police and members of other law enforcement agencies have been deployed in Nayapaltan and its adjacent areas to avert any untoward situation.