Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday voiced concern over “conspiracies” aimed at derailing the upcoming national election, reaffirming that polls will be held in the first half of February and power handed to an elected govt.
“Those who do not want the interim government to lead the nation to an election will make every effort to derail it. They will try to create a situation where the election cannot be held,” Yunus said after meeting leaders of seven political parties and Hefazat-e-Islam at state guesthouse Jamuna.
He stressed the polls would mark “standing on our own feet, about gaining courage” and must be free of foreign interference. “Those who could not vote before, or had bitter experiences, this time we must create an environment of joy and festivity. No one should be able to say they were denied the right to vote.”
Yunus also urged parties to stay united: “There will be attempts to create division among us. But we must remain firm and cooperate with each other. This election will be a unique one. It is not just the election of the interim government, it is the election of all the people of this country.”
Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party chief Mujibur Rahman Manju said Yunus admitted the administration lacks officials experienced in holding neutral polls. A proposal was floated to appoint such people on contract. Manju also flagged poor govt coordination, citing attacks on Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Nurul Haque Nur and incidents at Chittagong University, urging Yunus to meet law enforcement officials.
Gono Odhikar Parishad general secretary Rashed Khan said Yunus was “surprised” by an alleged conspiracy to make the Jatiya Party official opposition. He asserted: “In the upcoming election, there can be no participation of the Awami League, Jatiya Party, or the 14-party alliance.”
Advisers Wahiduddin Mahmud, C R Abrar, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adilur Rahman and Asif Nazrul were also present at the talks.