Bangladesh crisis: poll postponment inevitable
by M Rama Rao in The National Herald
New Delhi: The turn of events in Bangladesh make postponement of elections slated for January 23 inevitable. No nominations have been filed even though the last date for filing nominations is Dec 21. The Awami League and its allies in the 14-party coalition, the LDP formed by breakaway BNP leaders and some Islamist parties are for boycott of elections.
Under the Bangladesh constitution, the interim government must elections within 90 days after it comes to power. The D-day can however be postponed if the situation so warrants by approaching the Supreme Court, according to several jurists.

The Awami League led alliance Monday staged a rally in Dhaka where it had spelt out its plans and planks. Their five point demands: correct voters list, announce a fresh poll schedule, revamp the EC and depoliticise the administration. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury, who is also supporting the AL stand, has termed the current situation as 'uncongenial' for holding a neutral election

The updating of electoral rolls also has become a farce even in the capital Dhaka. The EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarker still has the cheek to declare that the total electorate figure would go up even though 1.2 crore bogus were not weeded out. There are allegations that the field staff of the election commission only visited the houses of either BNP or Jaamat leaders or of their relatives and supporters and ignored the AL workers in the revision drive which began on December 8.

What is more reports in local media allege quoting eye witnesses that the visiting EC officials were usually guided and instructed by local leaders of BNP or its front organisations, and stayed away from the houses or slums occupied by Awami League supporters. The ongoing drive is the fourth of such attempts preceding the upcoming election, which has also been mired with allegations of irregularities.

So far President Iajuddin Ahmed’s caretaker government has given no indication of ‘accommodating’ the opposition. He did ask last week end his advisors to mount a fresh peace effort but then tied their hands when he said any accord on EC revamp namely removal of two tainted Election Commissioners, SM Zakaria and Modabbir Hossain Chowdhury, must be acceptable to BNP and AL alike. Commentators and analysts are unanimous that the BNP, not President Iajuddin Ahmed holds the key for a solution.

The international community is increasingly worried over the impasse in Bangaldesh. The US envoy to Dhaka Patricia A. Butenis has gone public with her criticism. She said the interim government has failed to act neutrally ahead of January elections. Diplomats of some western countries and the European Union have also met the top brass of the BNP to make them see reason. Their message is clear: create a level playing field for free elections. In other words, they want President Iajuddin Ahmed to accommodate the Awami League demands.