Ruling party has to do more

BNP and its allies have decided to participate in the forthcoming national election, scheduled to be held on December 30, while the government will continue to oversee everything. In contrast, the party boycotted the previous election in 2014, claiming the election wouldn't be fair under a partisan government. It waged protests, but in the end, the party failed to replicate Awami League's success in 1996 when the latter forced the then-government, run by BNP, to install a non-party caretaker government.

Although the BNP has decided to participate in the election, it has cautioned that it might change its mind if level-playing field isn't ensured.

As the party in power, Awami League has a responsibility to show more concessions. They will have to create a favourable atmosphere for all contesting political parties and must not interfere in the polling process. People must be allowed to exercise their rights to choose their representative .

Mohammad Zonaed Emran, By e-mail