Talks needed before time runs out: Kazi Zafrullah
As a political crisis brews ahead of the national election, slated for early next year, Kazi Zafrullah, presidium member of the ruling Awami League, stressed the need for talks between the political parties before time runs out.
He made the comment at an event -- "Senior Leader Fellowship Programme" -- organised by Democracy International at a hotel in the capital yesterday.
Around 24 district-level political leaders from three parties -- Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party -- took part in the six-day fellowship programme to gain knowledge on the function of democracy, voting rights and mitigating infighting.
Three veteran politicians from three parties took part as guests in the concluding part of the event.
Kazi Zafrullah said he thinks everyone wants a free and fair election where people will be able to cast their votes for their desired candidates.
He added that this is also what Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants.
"In our last central executive committee meeting, she said that we will have a free and fair election, and if the Awami League cannot win, we will be the opposition."
He further said, "Democracy can't move forward without talks [between political parties].
"Before time runs out, we have to try to learn to talk to each other. If we cannot, how can we proceed? How can we take democracy forward? It's not possible."
Nazrul Islam Khan, member of BNP standing committee, in response to Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam, said the BNP did not want the caretaker government for a free and fair election.
Fakhrul Imam said, "The government never runs an election, the election commission does. When you [the BNP] were in power, you did not, nor did the ruling party Awami League. All we wanted was an election-time government under which the election commission will function without any influence or intervention."
He hoped the fellowship programme will inspire goodwill across the parties.
The JP lawmaker also said the parties cannot stand each other though they have similarities in many cases.
"All we want is an inclusive and fair election. This is the core purpose. It would have been better if we had been trained on how to have one."
Referring to the past, he said, "Ballot boxes would once be stuffed as they were not transparent. Later, transparent boxes came but they turned out to be stuffed beforehand. Even EVMs could not earn the trust of the masses.
"Now, the time for change has come. Globally, many countries brought changes in their election processes and held free and fair elections. In France, they ensure at least 50 percent presence of voters to call it a 'participatory election'. In our case, we still elect someone even in the case of no voters."
Dana L Olds, chief of party of the Senior Leader Fellowship Programme of Democracy International, also spoke at the event.
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