The government has assured of ensuring a level playing field during its talks with the new alliance Jatiya Oikya Front at Ganabhaban on Thursday. However, the opposition says a mere verbal assurance will not be enough and the Awami League-led government has to come up realistic measures.
A second round of talks between the ruling party-led coalition and the new alliance with the BNP launched by Gano Forum chief Dr Kamal Hossain is set to take place.
The Oikya Front, which has floated seven-point demands to ensure free and fair election, believes that their demands will be fulfilled if the government ensures a level playing field for all the parties ahead of the general election.
According to insiders, the Oikya Front is not anymore focusing on the key demands, like release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, the government’s resignation or reconstitution of the Election Commission rather on a congenial atmosphere to campaign for the upcoming polls.
The opposition coalition now stresses on assurances of taking part in the polls freely, not arresting candidates and activists as well as an atmosphere where voters can freely cast their franchises.
During its talks with Oikya Front, the Awami League-led coalition only assured of measures on part of the administration, according to people familiar with the matter.
Assurances of ministers and lawmakers refraining from using administrative, no political cases, administration’s cooperation for holding campaign rallies, all out cooperation from the government to election commission and allowing foreign observers in the general election came for the talks at the prime minister’s official residence.
However, the government will not negotiate on demands like stepping down, reconstitution of the election commission or BNP chief Khaleda’s release.
“The matter of reconstituting the election commission is the president’s call, not the prime minister or the government. Khaleda Zia has been convicted by the court, so the prime minister has nothing to do with her release or dropping the charges,” said Awami League’s Legal Affairs Secretary SM Rezaul Karim.
The prime minister or the government can’t step down as it will raise the question of who will be in charge, he added. “Even if the prime minister resigns, the president will instruct her to continue until the next government takes office.”
According to the Awami League leader, the government can take several measures to ensure a level playing field. “Ministers and MPs will be barred from any activities or pledges which might influence the voters.”
It’s clear to BNP, the Oikya Front’s biggest stakeholder, that the talks will not yield anything over the demands of party chief’s release, the government’s resignation or the EC’s reconstitution. The newly-formed alliance is now focusing on conditions for a free and fair election.
“According to our knowledge, a more or less 60 percent fair elections will change the game. So, that’s our prime concern. We are not keen to press any party’s demand to jeopardise it,” a senior Oikya Front leader said on condition of anonymity.
The BNP, however, believes the political impasse will end if the government is sincere over a level playing field, according to insiders.
The party is now focusing on the election and the next round of talks with the government will centre on it, they say.
However, on record, the BNP says a credible election is not possible with the incumbent government in office.
“That’s why we want them to step down. The government considers the BNP as a party which resorts to violence. If that was the case, then the people will not vote for the BNP. The prime minister can see it for herself this time,” said BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu.
Claiming that the government’s was not sincere, he said, “The prime minister said about a level playing field during the talks and no arrests for political reasons. But the very same day some 350 BNP activists were arrested. We want effective assurance and realistic steps.”
Observers said there is yet to be any apparent signs of consensus between the government and the opposition but a level playing field for all political parties will end the impasse.
According to Badiul Alam Majumder, who leads the citizens’ platform ‘Shujan’, the lack of impartiality of the polls-time government and election commission as well as the MPs control over local issues are the biggest challenges for a credible election.
“Fair polls can be ensured if these issues are addressed. But I don’t think the way the government now saying can ensure a level playing field. The government needs to take visible and effective measures to ensure that,” he told Bangla Tribune.