POBNEWS24, Dhaka Oct 1, 2024 : After the Chief Adviser’s press secretary referred to the period of one to one and a half years that was mentioned by Army Chief Waqar-uz-Zaman as a ‘personal opinion’, various discussions are taking place in the political arena and social media.
To some, the matter appears to be a ‘lack of consensus’ or ‘manifestation of disharmony’ between the army chief and the interim government over the election deadline.
A leader of BNP, one of the main political parties, says that the statement on elections should come from the government to avoid controversy. And Jamaat-e-Islami’s spokesperson says that these controversies will end only if the reforms are completed quickly and elections are held.
On August 5, after the departure of the Sheikh Hasina government, the army chief announced the process of forming the interim government after discussions with the political parties. Later, the government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on August 8.
Then in his first address to the nation, Professor Muhammad Yunus said that when the election will be held is a purely political decision. Then, in another speech given a month after assuming office, he announced the formation of six commissions for reforms on various issues.
Those commissions were supposed to start working from October 1, but in the end it did not.
The Chief Adviser Press Secretary said that the government will once again hold a dialogue with the political parties before the six commissions start working. After the completion of the work of the commission, after receiving the recommendation, another round of dialogue will be held.
But BNP has always been demanding elections as soon as possible.
On the other hand, Jamaat has given importance to the implementation of the reform program before the elections.
What the army chief said
In an interview with Reuters, army chief Waqar-uz-Zaman said the transition to a democratic process should take place within one to one-and-a-half years.
But he also emphasized on patience.
“If you ask, that should be a time frame within which we can enter into a democratic process,” he said.
Mr.Zaman said the chief adviser and the army chief meet every week and there is a “very good relationship” between them. The military is supporting the government’s efforts to stabilize the country. “I am sure that if we work together there is no reason to fail.”
In that interview, he also said that he would support the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus “whatever the circumstances” to carry out important reforms so that elections can be held within the next eighteen months.
“I will be by his side. Whatever it is. So that he can complete his program,” he said in the interview.
What the chief adviser’s press secretary said
In a press conference on Monday, Shafiqul Alam said that the timing of the election will depend on the report of the Reform Commission and the political discussion about it.
Then the matter of time will come when the election will be held.
He referred to the army chief’s statement in that press conference as his own opinion and said, “When will it (elections) take place?” After 16 months or 12 or 8 months it cannot be determined now. And I think that the army chief gave an opinion here.”
Mr. Alam told BBC Bangla on Tuesday, “There is no point of disagreement here.” The Army is an institution of the Government and the Chief of Army Staff has given his personal opinion. The chief adviser has always said that the people will decide when the elections will be held”.
He said, “There are some issues of reform before the elections. A commission has been formed in these matters. These will be discussed with the political parties before the commission starts its work. The Election Commission will be reformed and reorganized based on the consensus there. Only then will the commission announce the election date”.
“That’s why I said it could be 12 months, 16 months or two years.
It cannot be said yet. That’s why I say again that the people will decide when the election will be held,” said Mr. Alam
Disagreement or incoherence?
On September 24, the Chief of Army Staff’s interview with the Chief of Army Staff was widely discussed in the media of Bangladesh.
Because this was the first statement by the government or anyone related to the government after the current interim government came to power.
Earlier, BNP had been demanding the announcement of a roadmap for the elections from the beginning.
But no one from the Prof. Muhammad Yunus-led government has come out with any statement on how many days they think the election will or should be held.
Later in the first speech given to the nation Mr.
Yunus said that when the elections will be held is a purely political decision.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in a discussion meeting in Dhaka on August 24, called on the interim government to give a roadmap for speedy reforms in addition to the elections.
Meanwhile, in an interview given to American media NPR, Muhammad Yunus talked about the term and election of the interim government. The interview has also been published in different media of Dhaka today.
In the interview, Yunus was asked whether military leaders say the interim government should remain in power for 18 months.
And the opposition parties wanted elections in November. Is 18 months enough time for what you need to do?
In response, Yunus said, “Some say to reform as soon as possible, otherwise you (Dr. Yunus) will become unpopular the longer you delay.
Everything will be messed up. Others say, no, you must complete this reform. So you have to stay this long. Because we don’t want to go to Bangladesh 2.0 without reforming everything. So this debate is going on.”
Advisor to BNP Chairperson Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal says that those who are running the country after a bloody revolution have never worked together before. As a result, they may have different thoughts. The issue of incoherence is coming up due to different statements on the issues of election or transition to democratic process.
“I think it will be discussed with the parties and the decision will be made there. “There will be no room for misunderstanding if a unified opinion is presented through the government without giving individual opinions first,” he told BBC Bangla.
On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami spokesperson Matiur Rahman Akand said that the statements coming from the government and the army chief about the election period cannot be called a lack of coordination.
“But it cannot be said that there is coordination. The Army is providing great support to the government institutions and the government. But the decision about the election will come from the government. A lot of work needs to be done to make the elections fair, acceptable and meaningful,” he told BBC Bangla.
He says that the army will have a role in running the country because the current interim government has been formed on the initiative of the army chief after the fall of the Awami League government.
“However, if elections are held quickly with reforms, there will be no more chance for such debates,” he opined.
However, Zobaida Nasreen, a political analyst and Dhaka University teacher, says that in the current political reality, there is no opportunity to call the army chief’s statement a mere personal comment.
“The army chief has an important role in the government. And it is natural that his comments or suggestions on important issues like elections carry special importance. If the government does not give that importance, it reveals the distance between them,”she said.
