BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, who was nomination seeker of the opposition party from Sylhet-1, officially joined the ruling Awami League today.
He formally joined the ruling party after offering bouquet of flower to AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gono Bhaban this evening.
A member of prime minister's press wing confirmed the development to The Daily Star.
On January 7, many people will not vote, but many others probably will. There are voters, not just first-timers, who are aching to go out even if just to see the inside of that hallowed ground called a polling booth. Having been twice disenfranchised through elections that have since passed into the annals of democracy as examples of "managed elections" or "elections without choice," it is safe to assume that these people would be desperate, seeking, even seething. Partisans will be happy to oblige calls for casting their ballot and add bodies to the count, like the tin soldiers on a game board; dissenters will be there to make a point; and those in between will be there because, well, they just would like to.
You've already met the dummy candidates, aka independents. Now, meet dummy voters.
For what are voters without any real choice, or power, if not glorified dummies? Now that BNP and like-minded parties are out of the race and unable to scupper its re-election plan, Awami League can again safely trust in voters. People can have the satisfaction, however temporary, of voting against it, or for it, and the party can have the satisfaction of still coming out victorious. In a climate described by a columnist as being "of the AL, for the AL, and by the AL," with it handpicking both its candidates and rivals, the outcome is a foregone conclusion. The dummies are just there to make the inevitable happen.
How much of a choice do general voters really have in this suffocating situation? Even if we disregard the "fear" factor playing in the background, voters, in a democracy, are entitled to have credible options to choose from, which clearly they don't at the moment. Their role has been reduced to that of a helpless participant, treasured so long as they are useful, with no guarantee of even coming out of this fruitless exercise unscathed. In other words, not only are people not getting to vote for whomever they want, but they cannot even not cast their votes. Even dissenters who are planning to vote as a protest will inevitably be strengthening the hands of the orchestrators of this catch-22 situation.
It is, therefore, no longer the sole responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure voters' presence at the polling booths. It is Awami League's too, and the party is going out of its way to get them to the booths—even those who are not happy with the government. Speaking to reporters, an influential leader from Narayanganj said, "Our appeal to voters is, vote for whomever you want. Don't vote for me [if you don't want to], but do still come to the polling station and vote, because it is your right. Don't squander your right. You have no right to criticise the government if you don't vote." Regardless of the problematic line of reasoning, the call to vote, for once, seems genuine.
But there is still a tightrope to walk lest the motley assortment of independents, fake challengers, and allies-in-disguise somehow outperform Awami League in the final vote count, thus staging the biggest coup in the history of managed elections. It will be something of a disaster for the party's rank and file if, after all the scheming and browbeating and in the absence of any real opposition, it doesn't have a landslide victory. But it will be equally disastrous if it does—at least for its attempt to show a competitive election to the outside world. So voters have their job cut out for them: they will be expected to vote against AL, but not too zealously, so that a decent, respectable-looking victory can be achieved in the end.
In such a hazy situation, we can only speculate about what the minds behind Awami League's re-election campaign are really thinking. It is a testament to the complexities of this election, and the expanding AL multiverse, that so many conflicting theories seem plausible at the same time. The official line is an insufficient measure for understanding the whole situation, and can be at odds with the messages coming from grassroots. For example, how to ensure the presence (and compliance) of voters? Partisan voters are not a problem but they don't likely form the majority either, despite extravagant claims by the party of having 70 percent of the total population ready to vote for it. So, there seems to be a "carrot and stick" policy afoot to both court and intimidate general voters.
Officially, besides frequent entreaties to vote, Awami League has already trained over 200,000 campaign workers, each responsible for bringing 200 voters to their local polling station, as part of an offline scheme. Unofficially, there have been a number of instances of threats being issued to noncompliant voters since the election campaign began. Among them were threats of breaking the hands and legs of opposition supporters, cutting non-voters or dissenting voters off from social safety net benefits, cutting off their utility lines, etc. These warnings are not to be taken lightly considering how swift past retributions were, and how a big party like BNP was all but incapacitated within mere months through mass arrests, ghost cases, and rushed convictions. According to the finance ministry, there were more than 1.28 crore beneficiaries of social safety net programmes in the 2022-23 fiscal year. BNP has alleged that the government is "targeting" these beneficiaries to fill up polling booths.
How much of a choice do general voters really have in this suffocating situation? Even if we disregard the "fear" factor playing in the background, voters, in a democracy, are entitled to have credible options to choose from, which clearly they don't at the moment. Their role has been reduced to that of a helpless participant, treasured so long as they are useful, with no guarantee of even coming out of this fruitless exercise unscathed. In other words, not only are people not getting to vote for whomever they want, but they cannot even not cast their votes. Even dissenters who are planning to vote as a protest will inevitably be strengthening the hands of the orchestrators of this catch-22 situation.
What Awami League seems to want is a restaging of the 2014 election minus the stigma of unopposed wins and voter-less polling booths. This is being done "to fool the world," as a columnist of this daily has recently argued. However, it cannot take away from the unfolding farce of an election that will be fair, competitive and participatory on paper but none of the above in reality, whether the world acknowledges it or not.
Badiuzzaman Bay is assistant editor at The Daily Star.
Views expressed in this comment are the author's own.
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Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday said the EC was planning to use electronic voting machines to make sure that ballot boxes could not be stuffed on the night before an election.
He was addressing the trainers of election officials for the fifth phase of upazila polls at the Nirbachan Bhaban yesterday.
He said the Election Commission cannot carry ballot papers to the voting centres on the morning of the polling day.
Transparency International Bangladesh in a study found that stamping of ballots took place on the night before the general election on December 30 in more than one centres in 33 constituencies out of 50 surveyed.
In 30 constituencies, ballot papers were stamped openly after occupying polling booths on the voting day, said the study titled “Review of Election Process of 11th National Election”.
The CEC said the situation regarding polls irregularities has been deteriorating gradually.
“The election irregularities could not be stopped despite strict enforcement of related laws and adoption of the electoral code of conduct. We will have to get rid of the situation.”
Huda said the EC would have to take a tough stance on proper enforcement of laws to stop irregularities.
He called upon all election officials to discharge their duties with professionalism.
Referring to the political parties' demand for deployment of army in the elections, the CEC asked, “Which country in the world deploys army for conducting an election?”
He said political parties would take part in elections, people would cast their votes as owners of the country and the EC would carry out its duties smoothly to hold a trouble-free election.
Huda said conducting an election in a nonpartisan manner would be the main objective of the election officials and the candidates' identities and influence would not be considered under any circumstances.
He asked election officials to be careful about not neglecting their duties.
The CEC said defeated candidates always claim that elections are not acceptable while the winners accept the polls results.
Elections to 482 upazila parishads will be held in five phases from tomorrow.
The second, third, fourth and fifth phases of the fifth upazila elections are scheduled for March 18, 24, 31 and June 18.
In 2014, 487 upazilas went to polls in six phases between February and May.
As voting for the 11th parliamentary election starts this morning, voters of some remote villages in Noakhali are passing days in fear as they doubt if they will be able to vote freely.
Many of them claim Awami League men warned them not to go to polling centres while police harassed and picked up those known to be opposition supporters.
In Noakhali-3 (Begumganj upazila), a number of locals alleged that ruling party men vandalised some 40 to 50 houses in at least five villages under Rajganj union around Thursday afternoon.
AL's Mamunur Rashid Kiron and BNP's Barkat Ullah Bulu are running for the constituency.
“Ruling party men, some of them wearing helmets”, wreaked havoc in Aladinagar, Bilalpur, Rajalyapur, Hossainpur and Hakimpur, villagers said.
Divided in three to four groups, each consisting of 30 to 40 men, they carried iron rods, machetes and firearms and destroyed whatever was found in the tin-built houses, they added.
This correspondent visited Aladinagar, Bilalpur and Rajalyapur yesterday and found signs of vandalism as doors, windows and household items like television at some 15 houses were broken.
Alamgir Hossain, a grocer who lives in Aladinagar, alleged that ruling party men carried out the attack. The villagers went to local police station but “police refused to take any case just because they are BNP men”.
“I am not directly involved in politics. They vandalised my house because I just support BNP.”
Alamgir, however, said the villagers are united and they will go to the polling centres together this morning to cast vote in protest of the attack.
Firoz Molla, officer-in-charge of Begumganj Police Station, said a minor incident of violence centring on the polls took place in the area.
Denying the allegation over the refusal to accept the case, he said none came to the police station over the matter.
Seeking anonymity, a villager at Modhusudanpur under Narottampur union of the upazila said he is worried about his safety while casting vote today.
“I may not go to the voting centre if I see any untoward incident,” he said.
Noakhali-5 that comprises Kabirhat and Companiganj upazilas sees battle of two heavyweights -- AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader and BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed.
Miron Uddin, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver and resident of Mirzanagar of Kabirhat, said ruling party men picked up three people from his neighbourhood early yesterday.
“The three were later handed over to local police. Their only offence was that they supported BNP,” Miron added.
He also alleged that ruling party men asked him to stay away from the polling centre.
Talking to this paper, BNP leader Moudud said he is hopeful of winning the election if it is free and fair as “he has a huge support base here”.
He alleged that many BNP activists were arrested by police.
Besides, ruling party men launched attacks during electioneering leaving over 100 of his party activists injured, he added. “My only hope is the people. I will win if they can cast vote freely.”
Moudud said he has already selected some 1,200 polling agents, including the replacements in case anyone fails to reach poling centres due to police harassment and threats.
BNP candidate for Noakhali-4 Md Shahjahan also alleged that he was struggling to engage adequate number of polling agents on the same ground.
Tanmay Das, deputy commissioner of Noakhali and also the returning officer, said he is yet to get any written complaint over violence or harassment.
Based on some verbal complaints, he sent teams to some spots for investigations but the allegations were found to be “not true”.
In another development, police claimed BNP men allegedly attacked polling officers and snatched away ballot papers from a polling centre in Sonaimuri upazila under Noakhali-2 last night.
Several officials, including the presiding officer of Nateshwar School centre, were injured in the attack around 11:00pm, Noakhali Superintendent of Police Ilias Sharif told The Daily Star.
The SP added that activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were involved in the attack.
The Daily Star could not independently verify the police claim.
BNP's Joynal Abdin Farroque contesting against Awami League's M Morshed Alam is contesting for the seat.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the polls will be held under the supervision of the Election Commission while the government will assist it.
“It is going to be like the previous elections. It is on the right track,” he told reporters at AL's Noakhali district office.
On opposition alliance's directives to “guard the polling centres”, he said, “We will also guard the polling stations to maintain law and order so that voters can cast their votes peacefully today.
“Tomorrow's election will be held in a festive and peaceful manner and we are confident that we will win.
“All's well that ends well.”
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today announced her party's polls manifesto for the 2024 national election, vowing to build a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
"Bangladesh will be established as a high-middle-income country by 2031 and a developed, prosperous, smart one by 2041 by the Bangladesh Awami League, the bearer of the spirit of the Liberation War, if the people once again allow us to serve them by voting for the boat, the AL's electoral symbol," she said.
The premier said if the people of the country vote for the AL, her party will give them development, peace, and prosperity.
The AL chief made the remarks after unveiling her party's election manifesto at a city hotel this morning, just 10 days before the 12th parliamentary election slated for January 7.
The slogan of the AL's election manifesto is "Smart Bangladesh where Development Shines, Accelerating Employment".
The manifesto has given priorities to 11 issues.
In the manifesto, the AL vowed to show zero tolerance against corruption and terrorism, alleviate poverty, create employment, and ensure service-oriented and accountable administration.
The AL manifesto also put greater focus on infrastructure development, freedom of press and the practice of transparency, accountability, good governance as well as strengthened democratic values in all aspects of state management.
It, as well, promised to be tougher against money launderers, to eradicate bribery and corruption at all levels of the state and society, to establish a universal health system, and introduce health insurance.
"We are responsible for all the mistakes during the last 15 years ... Success is yours. Look at our mistakes with a forgiving eye. We promise to learn from past mistakes and conduct future activities according to your expectations," she said.
Right now, Bangladesh is standing in a transitional period and the country is going to join the ranks of developing countries from the list of least developed countries, she said, adding that this transition is an honour on the one hand and a huge challenge on the other.
"The government to be formed by the January 7 election must have the capacity to face this challenge. Only the Awami League can face this challenge and take the country to new heights," she said.
Looking forward to the 12th election, Sheikh Hasina said they have once again appeared before the countrymen with the election manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League.
"As a continuation of the past, this time, we have prepared an implementable election manifesto by setting specific targets. The continuity of the long-term action plans announced in the 2008, 2014, and 2018 election manifestos has also been maintained in the 12th election manifesto," she said.
The AL chief said they will not claim that they have always been a hundred percent successful in running the government despite sincerity and devotion.
She continued: "Awami League does not believe in the politics of words. We do what we say. The implementation of election manifestos of 2008, 2014, and 2018 is proof of that."
But at times, she said man-made, natural, and global obstacles slowed down Bangladesh's progress, adding that during 2013-16, they had to move forward by confronting the attempts of BNP-Jamaat to spread terrorism and militancy.
Since 2009, they had to deal with several natural disasters while the biggest blow came in 2020 when the global coronavirus pandemic broke out, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that the pandemic devastated economies and health systems around the entire world.
"Our government has successfully handled this terrible pandemic of the 21st century and kept the wheels of the economy running," she said.
However, as soon as the pressure of the coronavirus pandemic stopped, first, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, and this year the Israel-Palestine war started, she added.
The sanction and counter-sanction against each other have thrown the world economy into turmoil and the least developed and developing countries like Bangladesh are being forced to import products at higher prices, she continued.
The depreciation of the domestic currency has led to an increase in inflation, which has an impact on commodity prices and people's lives, the premier said.
"Several times, despite multifaceted and all-out efforts, we have not been able to curb the rise in prices of daily necessities. This problem is not only for our country, but this problem is also for all rich and poor countries," she said.
However, "We are trying to reduce the plight of the lower and lower-middle class people through various initiatives, including expanding social safety net coverage. We hope that we can overcome this obstacle very soon, In Sha Allah," she added.
Whenever the election comes, the AL chief said an anti-liberation, anti-Bangladesh, and anti-development clique becomes active with a leap of conspiracy.
"They enter the field by using tricks or vote rigging or through the back door to come to power. If they become unsuccessful, they jump on the people to take revenge," she said.
She went on saying that the anti-liberation force wants to intimidate the public through arson attack, burning of vehicle, bombing, sabotage, or terrorist activities.
"This time, there was no exception. This time, they are also making conspiracies from abroad. Realising that they will not get the people's mandate, they have already indulged in terrorist activities," she said.
In the name of the hartal-blockade, the premier said that vehicles are being burnt, people are being killed, railway lines are being rooted up, and various vandalisms are being carried out continuously.
"The charred bodies of the mother and child have deeply shaken everyone's conscience. Such heinous acts can no longer be tolerated. Without getting the response to the people, mercenary forces are continuing this vandalism and damaging the vehicles," she said.
The people of this country will never let them fulfill their dream of disrupting the election through terrorism, she continued.
"As you resisted them in 2013-2016, let us collectively defend them this time. This anti-independence, anti-development vulture party will never be able to wound Bangladesh with their poisonous teeth and claws - let's take this oath in the month of victory," the AL chief said.
She reminded that this country's outstanding achievements- starting from establishing the rights to speak the mother tongue and achieving the motherland's independence, have come through the hands of the Awami League.
The AL president said Bangladesh has been transformed in the last 15 years as today's Bangladesh is by no means poverty-stricken or economically fragile.
"I can unequivocally say that today's Bangladesh is now a 'Changed Bangladesh.' Bangladesh is now a fast-paced country moving forward with its potential. Minor setbacks cannot hinder our economic progress today," she said.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader also spoke at the function.
Convener of the Election Manifesto Committee Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque gave the address of welcome.
Cabinet members, politicians, foreign diplomats, educationists, journalists and eminent personalities of the country were present.
Two video documentaries highlighting the journey of Bangladesh towards prosperity under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were screened at the function.
BNP candidates for Manikganj-1 Khondaker Akter Hamid Dablu allegedly came under attack today.
Dablu claimed that criminals fired gunshots at his car twice in Ghior upazila town and Mohadevpur area of Shivalaua upzila while he was returning home from Daulatpur upazila nirbahi officer’s office this afternoon.
However, the two bullets missed his car, he said adding that he informed Manikganj police superintendent about the attacks.
Contacted, Rifat Rahman Shamim, superintendent of police in Manikganj, said that after investigation, police couldn't find any evidence of such incident.
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