The Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, Kazi Habibul Awal, announced last Wednesday that the country will hold its twelfth parliamentary elections on January 7, 2024. This development, reported by local media outlet New Age, occurred despite the Election Commission failing to reach a consensus on the election schedule with opposition parties.
In response to this announcement, the ruling Awami League party expressed positive sentiments, stating the scheduling “adheres to the law and is applicable to all parties”. Conversely, most opposition parties rejected the proposed timetable. In fact, opposition parties have staged protests across the country for the preceding two weeks, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed in favor of forming a caretaker government.
Commissioner Awal encouraged all political parties to respect the code of conduct for the upcoming election. He pledged that the commission will, “discharge its duties with honesty, integrity, and sincerity to the best of its ability” to ensure a fair, free, and peaceful election.
BNP, the main opposition party in Bangladesh, has been vocal in their distrust of the government’s ability to conduct a fair election. The party has even gone as far as condemning the election schedule, calling it a “unilateral declaration.” In light of these concerns, BNP has called for a nation-wide election boycott should Hasina continue to serve as Prime Minister.
This statement comes following recent political unrest in the country. In late October, a court ordered arrests of BNP members following an opposition protest. In mid-November, United Nations experts conveyed grave concerns over human rights issues in Bangladesh, particularly the detention of political activists.
The upcoming parliamentary elections in Bangladesh promise to be a controversial affair, as the dissent from the opposition parties is set against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile political environment. These tensions, and the responses they provoke, will likely shape the landscape of Bangladesh’s political future.
For more details, check out the original article at JURIST – News.