Assessment of poll Participation decision

Division within BNP leadership

A day after the results of the 11th parliamentary election were declared, BNP leaders were busy assessing whether contesting the polls was a right decision or not. A section of BNP leaders believe that participation in the December 30 elections was another mistake by the party, which witnessed a drubbing. They alleged that the opposition candidates were defeated by mass rigging in connivance with state machineries. The BNP’s first mistake was to boycott the January 5, 2014 election despite having a congenial atmosphere. This time, the party made another mistake by taking part in the polls without creating a flow and ensuring a minimum level playing field, said the leaders.

According to them, there is no alternative but to wage a mass upsurge by bringing all the opposition parties together to restore democracy through a free and fair election. BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman said: “The BNP taking part in the election was a mistake. The party achieved nothing from the election.”

The BNP leader claimed that all the people and the world community knew that the polls would be held in such a manner and hence there was no reason for taking part in the elections. The former army chief, who refrained from taking part in the election, added that there was no legal basis of waging any movement or implementation of any programme against the election.

He called for a major change in the party leadership to make things turn around. BNP joint secretary general advocate Mujibur Rahman Sarwar said joining the polls without waging a movement was not appropriate. “Jatiya Oikyafront decided to take part in the election, even though not a single one of its the seven demands was met. The PM’s assurance to opposition leaders to not arrest any of them without warrant was also not maintained,” he added.

Sarwar, who took part in the polls, said central leaders thought that there would be a vote revolution, but they should have stayed away from the election by weighing the situation.  He further said there was a congenial environment in 2014 to take part in the elections. “But this time, we took part in the election without waging a movement and creating an environment,” he added.

Alleging vote rigging and manipulation of results, the BNP leader said a large number of votes were stuffed in the ballot boxes the previous night and the opposition’s polling agents were not allowed to stay inside the polling booths from the morning.

On the other hand, some leaders argued that taking part in the election and rejecting the poll results was the right decision in order to prove that holding a free and fair election under a political government was not possible. The party rank and file may likely feel frustrated over participation in the election for the time being, but it will create hatred among the people against the government, they said.

He also said that the election proved that there was no democracy in the country and holding a neutral election was not possible under a partisan government. The BNP leader criticised those who greeted the Prime Minister with wreaths even before she took oath. He said the ruling party had not won the election, but the law enforcers ensured its victory. “The government has itself proved that there is no importance of votes and destroyed the electoral system,” he added.

The BNP’s critics, including the Prime Minister, had blamed the party for not taking part in the 10th parliamentary election. “Thus, taking part in this election was necessary to prove that an impartial election was not possible under a partisan government,” he said.

Dudu also said political leaders should decide as to how a movement could be built for a mass upsurge for restoration of democracy.

The BNP, the major partner in the Jatiya Oikyafront and 20-Party Alliance, faced a severe defeat in the just-concluded national election in which the ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance obtained a landslide victory with 288 seats out of the 299 contested seats.

The BNP and its partner Ganoforum that won only seven seats rejected the election and its results, alleging that they were defeated through “vote dacoity and the ruling party resorting to state terrorism”.

They also demanded the election to be declared invalid and holding fresh polls under a non-partisan government immediately.

Assessment of poll Participation decision

Division within BNP leadership

A day after the results of the 11th parliamentary election were declared, BNP leaders were busy assessing whether contesting the polls was a right decision or not. A section of BNP leaders believe that participation in the December 30 elections was another mistake by the party, which witnessed a drubbing. They alleged that the opposition candidates were defeated by mass rigging in connivance with state machineries. The BNPs first mistake was to boycott the January 5, 2014 election despite having a congenial atmosphere. This time, the party made another mistake by taking part in the polls without creating a flow and ensuring a minimum level playing field, said the leaders. According to them, there is no alternative but to wage a mass upsurge by bringing all the opposition parties together to restore democracy through a free and fair election. BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman said: The BNP taking part in the election was a mistake. The party achieved nothing from the election. The BNP leader claimed that all the people and the world community knew that the polls would be held in such a manner and hence there was no reason for taking part in the elections. The former army chief, who refrained from taking part in the election, added that there was no legal basis of waging any movement or implementation of any programme against the election. He called for a major change in the party leadership to make things turn around. BNP joint secretary general advocate Mujibur Rahman Sarwar said joining the polls without waging a movement was not appropriate. Jatiya Oikyafront decided to take part in the election, even though not a single one of its the seven demands was met. The PMs assurance to opposition leaders to not arrest any of them without warrant was also not maintained, he added. Sarwar, who took part in the polls, said central leaders thought that there would be a vote revolution, but they should have stayed away from the election by weighing the situation. He further said there was a congenial environment in 2014 to take part in the elections. But this time, we took part in the election without waging a movement and creating an environment, he added. Alleging vote rigging and manipulation of results, the BNP leader said a large number of votes were stuffed in the ballot boxes the previous night and the oppositions polling agents were not allowed to stay inside the polling booths from the morning. On the other hand, some leaders argued that taking part in the election and rejecting the poll results was the right decision in order to prove that holding a free and fair election under a political government was not possible. The party rank and file may likely feel frustrated over participation in the election for the time being, but it will create hatred among the people against the government, they said. He also said that the election proved that there was no democracy in the country and holding a neutral election was not possible under a partisan government. The BNP leader criticised those who greeted the Prime Minister with wreaths even before she took oath. He said the ruling party had not won the election, but the law enforcers ensured its victory. The government has itself proved that there is no importance of votes and destroyed the electoral system, he added. The BNPs critics, including the Prime Minister, had blamed the party for not taking part in the 10th parliamentary election. Thus, taking part in this election was necessary to prove that an impartial election was not possible under a partisan government, he said. Dudu also said political leaders should decide as to how a movement could be built for a mass upsurge for restoration of democracy. The BNP, the major partner in the Jatiya Oikyafront and 20-Party Alliance, faced a severe defeat in the just-concluded national election in which the ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance obtained a landslide victory with 288 seats out of the 299 contested seats. The BNP and its partner Ganoforum that won only seven seats rejected the election and its results, alleging that they were defeated through vote dacoity and the ruling party resorting to state terrorism. They also demanded the election to be declared invalid and holding fresh polls under a non-partisan government immediately.