Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said BNP and its allies want restoration of the caretaker government system not for the election, but to push the country back to darkness again.

"No one will be able to push the country back to the era of darkness," she declared.

Hasina, president of the ruling Awami League, was addressing a discussion marking the 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at its Dhaka district unit office in Tejgaon.

She said Bangladesh is the country of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib who was born to change the fate of the common people.

"And we will bring about that change following his ideals," she said.

The prime minister questioned the logic behind BNP's demand that the repealed caretaker government system is restored to oversee national elections.

"Why do they want that? What's their expectation? In 2008 election there was a caretaker government. In that election they got only 30 seats while Awami League bagged 233 seats," she recalled.

The prime minister said BNP should remember that.

She said while Awami League remains in power the poor get food and shelter.

In the country of Bangabanrhu, no one will remain without a home, address, and land, she said.

The government is implementing programmes to reach this goal, said the PM.

"And that is the thing they [BNP] cannot tolerate. They do not like that the common and poor people live a good life," she said.

BNP candidates of Dhaka-4 and Dhaka-19 constituencies are fearing further attacks on their campaigns and activists.

They both complained of inaction from the authorities despite repeated complaints, they claimed at separate press conferences today.

Dhaka-4 candidate Alhaj Salauddin Ahmed held a press conference in his Shyampur residence, alleging of police threats to his supporters.

Expressing fear for his life and family, he alleged law enforcers are continuing drives to arrest and harass the opposition leaders and activists.

“Several times I have lodged complaints to the Election Commission in this regard but did not get any response,” he said.

Dhaka-19 candidate Dr Dewan Mohammad Salauddin Babu alleged police, with help of ruling Awami League activists, are carrying out mass arrests of BNP activists.

He claimed arrests of at least 19 top BNP activists in the locality and attack and vandalism of BNP’s campaign offices in the area.

Fearing further vandalism, he said he has halted the election campaign for a few days. He too alleged of authorities’ inaction despite repeated complaints.

As the 12th National Parliamentary Election is only a few days ahead, aspirants are going above and beyond with their promotional activities to showcase what they can bring to the table. While every alleyway, street and locality has been adorned with posters, the most impressive promotion of this election is perhaps the innovative and catchy songs that are being played at political stalls, through mikes, moving vans and rickshaws.

One of the most popular songs in this category is "Joy Bangla, Jitbe Abar Nouka", voiced by GM Ashraf and others. The timely and catchy lyrics, tonality and energy that the song ensues made it an instant hit in the 2018 parliamentary election, and it resurfaces with all its old glory with its new version released in November.

The producer of the song, Towhid Hossain, said in an interview they did not think that this song would become this successful, they wanted to make a song that would resonate with the youth of the country. "I and my team tried to create something that not only be promotional but will engage and mobilise people, mostly the younger generation, that's all."

"The song became so popular that even Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met us and praised it. It's an achievement in itself. We added the new success stories, such as the inauguration of Metro Rail, Padma Multipurpose Bridge and Sheikh Hasina's leadership in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, to the song to make it even more relevant," said Towhid.

While the aforementioned song got over on its quality itself, many others have used the Internet to become viral, as did the eccentric rap song by Nadif Sani, "Manik Bhai er Salam Nin, Guys Be Careful", to promote politician Hasibur Rahman Manik. Nadif, an Old Dhaka resident, became the talk of the town when various videos became subject to memes on the Internet. The singer has gone on to make various renditions of this song.

The same happened to "Daisy Apar Salam Nin", meant to promote Awami League-backed Aleya Sarwar Daisy, which became an instant hit after its initial release. The rap song, made by an artiste named Qpid, is comprised of the lyrics "Daisy Apa'r Dui Noyon, 31 er Unnoyon", which instantly resonated with the people. Meme-makers on Facebook had a field day with the video.

On a more serious note, this election's top picks will be one of Bangladesh Awami League's theme songs, "Ekti Doler Jonno", composed and arranged by Pavel Areen and sung by Pantha Kanai, Chandana Mojumdar, Dilshad Nahar Kona, and Masha Islam, amongst others. Another is "Amra Joy Banglar Louk", composed by Emon Chowdhury.

Other popular songs include "Noukar Pale Legeche Hawa", "Teknaf Theke Tetulia", "Bar Bar Dorkar Sheikh Hasinar Sorkar", "Sheikh Hasinar Sarker Barbar Dorkar", "Khela Hobe", which are making waves across the country with AL followers flaunting their dance moves and support in poster-filled caravans.

Prominent singer Momotaz is probably having the most effective campaign as she is utilising her musical talents with prose to mobilise the people in her Manikganj-02 constituency. She has been seen readily making new songs and singing them at her electoral campaigns across the region. She also sang in Pritom Hasan's composition "Amra Nouka Chalai Re" and other favourites, such as "Sob Netar Chaite Amar Sheikh Hasinai Bhala", which are also being used in her and several others' campaigns. Emon Chowdhury makes yet another return to this list with "Amra Achhi Mathe".

Followers of popular politician, Sheikh Tonmoy of Bagerhat-02 constituency are using "Tonmoy Bhaike Vote Dile Hobe Unnoyon",  Mahiya Mahi's Rajshahi-1 constituency "MP Nayika Mahire Truck Markai Ekta Vote Diye Ja" adapted from the famous Fifa World Cup'18 theme song "Ale Ale", Ferdous Ahmed's Dhaka-10 constituency "Sheikh Hasinar Nayok Ferdous Jitbe Re", former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan's "Kamal Bhai Er Hobe Joy" and politician Momin Munzil's followers are using "Momin Munzil Bhai Abar Nouka Paiyachhe", inspired from a puthi song, to further their campaigns.

Songs like "Bolo Heiya", "Truck Markai Vote Chai", and "Jonotar Prarthi Kamarul Bhai", amongst others, are being played loudly through rickshaws, vans and in campaign stalls around Dhaka-06 constituency.

Although Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is not participating in the upcoming elections, followers of the party have not backed down from showing their love to the party by playing,  "Khaleda Zia Jindabad", Baby Naznin's "Gonotontrer Maa Khaleda Zia" and Asif Akbar's "Jonmo Tomar Juddhe Jawar" and "Jailer Bhetor Maa Ke Ar Thakte Debo Na", in a relatively more subdued manner.

A notable trend within these songs is the fact that they are often based on other popular songs, and these templates are reused constantly. Politicians often depend on local sound mixing studios to make their own songs from a varied number of previously recorded templates. The Daily Star spoke to one of these studios, Kallyanpur's Komol Media. "We provide these services at every election, from national to regional. Our songs get used across the country over the years," said the owner, Masum Rana.

"Most of our customers want modified versions of the old with their names and electoral symbols, as those are the most familiar and relevant to the voters, and also less costly. We also make new songs, but we take one or two days for that, and in that case, we charge extra," said Masum.

He informed that as they have their singers and sound designers ready during the election time, they only need 20 minutes and around Tk 2,000 to Tk 5,000 per song, based on the requirements of their clients. "Once the song is ready, we provide the song via a pen drive or links so that they can play them in any medium they want. We also upload it to our YouTube channel to attract clients," he added.

Masum Rana also adds this practice has been going on for years, and he has never faced any hurdles or problems from the concerned authority ever regarding copyrights.

Speaking to followers in several stalls across the Farmgate and Panthapath area of the capital, The Daily Star found that the followers mostly played these songs from YouTube, and downloaded files provided by the senior members of the concerned political leader. In the case of soundbox-laden rickshaws, or vans, they operate as per day allowances in their respective locality.

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The Copyright Act 2000 and Copyright Rules 2006 in Bangladesh provide legal protection for musical work. A musician's copyright is seen as being just as valuable as an author's right in legalese. Nonetheless, in terms of these political songs, no consequence has been noted whenever they lift the tune or music from a preexisting popular song.

As the 2024 parliamentary elections are just around the corner, expect to be hearing more creative, catchy and sometimes obnoxious songs around your locality. However, there are some real musical gems hidden everywhere, even in songs used as political tools. 
 

Shantanu Majumder, a professor of political science at the University of Dhaka, talks about his thoughts on Bangladesh's recent national election and its implications on society and opposition parties, in an interview with Afia Jahin of The Daily Star.

What are your thoughts regarding the January 7 election?

Whatever was predicted as the outcome of the national election turned out to be true. The implications of the election will span not only the country, but the South Asian region and even on an international scale. Compared to the previous two elections, the 12th parliamentary election received the most international attention.

From those in power, one thing we should hope for is that there is no post-election backlash. That is, the parties that chose not to participate in the election should not face intimidation or attacks. Moreover, these differences and the hostility between political parties must not affect society at large.

The existence of tensions, resulting from the nature of the election, cannot be denied. One major party was not satisfied with the election and thus boycotted it. So it would be absurd to think that, now that the election is over, they will accept defeat and react graciously. This prevailing reality must be acknowledged.

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What are your expectations from the new government?

I am not saying that actions shouldn't be taken against anti-democratic elements and anti-democratic actions in the name of preserving the rights of the opposition. And I also do not adhere to the cliché notion that someone who belongs to the opposition camp is by default an angel and the people with the ruling party are en masse wrongdoers. But, be it the opposing party or whoever, so long as they are not spreading disinformation or engaging in violence, they should not be harassed or subjected to false cases or violence.

Unfortunately, there is a section of unrestrained, uncontrolled government party activists who chant "Joy Bangla" and "Joy Bangabandhu" before initiating an offensive. I doubt whether these miscreants uphold the ideals of Bangabandhu. This section has existed for a long time. One can hope for a new start this time around, wherein this section can be reeled in internally.

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Can the new cabinet part with old ways? 

What is your opinion regarding the demands of BNP (the main political opposition) and the future course of opposition parties in Bangladesh?

I know of two key demands of the opposition before the election—the stepping down of the prime minister and the reintroduction of the unelected election-time caretaker government system. There's no point in discussing the first. I find it as a demand made only for the sake of it.

Regarding the second demand, I would advise against it. In my understanding, the caretaker system is anti-democratic. Democracy in no way permits unelected people to be in power. Moreover, "there cannot be a fair election under a party government" is a dangerous statement to make. Sure, we can say that a fair election is not possible under the rule of a specific party. But by saying that a fair election cannot take place under a political party, we are taking a wrong stance.

Besides, was there sufficient data available when a section of the urban civil society began making this argument during the movement for the installation of the caretaker system under the leadership of the then-opposition and current ruling party? We had only one election in 1973 under a party government. There was no party government between 1975 and 1990 in Bangladesh due to back-to-back military governments during that period. Finally, I hold Bangladeshi politicians in high regard. I do not think that they are the worst of the lot. We, unfortunately, have developed a culture of undermining our politicians. If we can get out of this, I believe we may see some positive results.

We need a strong opposition, and we need a few liberal democratic parties that will uphold the basic principles of the constitution and democratic values. Maintaining pressure on the ruling government is a priority, regardless of which party is in conflict with another.

At present, Bangladesh is gaining importance in terms of economy, geopolitics, and more. We are not a bubble anymore. If we aim to advance democracy in the country, the irregularities in elections and the undemocratic practices of the ruling party and even those of other political parties should surely be prominent parts of the discourse. The conversation should not end with the mention of a caretaker government. And the alleged flaws of both the party in power and the opposition must be addressed.

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Finally, what are your hopes for the new year?

In the realm of Bangladeshi politics and state affairs, I usually do not imagine the unimaginable. We tend to forget that Bangladesh is a post-colonial state. That it is a South Asian country. A country in the Indian subcontinent. We also forget that Bangladesh was also under military rule for many years.

I don't hope for too much in the new year; only that the political parties which truly uphold the values of the Liberation War should be strengthened. I hope that the government will effectively realise that its job isn't limited to maintaining discipline, but also extends to guaranteeing decent, liveable lives for citizens. From that point of view, I truly wish that the new government will be mercilessly heavy-handed against the people involved in price hikes, the so-called business syndicate, and the flight of capital. It would also be great to see the government attempt to reduce inequalities. And, importantly, the right to fear-free democratic opposition must be ensured.

Views expressed in this article are the interviewee's own.

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