Well on the way to election
We are heartened by Khaleda Zia's enthusiasm and her desire to participate in the forthcoming election something that she has asserted very definitively to the media the other day. This is a positive indication by itself. We are sure that such a disposition holds true in the case of Sheikh Hasina as well.
So far both the major political parties had taken a stance that should their respective leaders not be allowed to participate in the election they would boycott the polls. On this issue, it sounds particularly auspicious that the Commerce Advisor who had earlier indicated that participation of the two leaders was dependent on the course of the legal process, has now clearly stated that there is no longer any legal impediments against Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina taking part in the polls.
We are thus happy to say that our own feelings that there could be no constraints on the top-most leaders of the BNP and the AL about their participation in the election have been vindicated, and, as such, we believe that the matter should be put to rest, and any misgivings on the issue be purged from the minds of the leadership of the two parties.
We, therefore, call upon the political parties to put aside any extraneous matter and focus on the forthcoming election exclusively. They can start by giving up all unfounded fears regarding any machinations to keep the respective party leaders out of the political process.
Of equal importance for them would be to engage in substantive dialogue with the government for the lifting of emergency since no doubt there is a mismatch between electoral politics and emergency. And they should prevail upon the government on the necessity of lifting emergency early enough that would allow them to conduct adequately their electioneering activities in the run-up to 18th December election.
We also note with optimism the Foreign Advisor's dropping a hint, in the backdrop of the suggestions made by our development partners from time to time urging withdrawal of emergency before election, that the state of emergency might be lifted before elections after gradual relaxation of emergency rules depending upon discussion with the political parties.
It is the expectation of the people that the residual differences, if any, between the political parties and the government be ironed out without delay to put the country firmly on the road to election.
Comments