Awami League’s Participation in Elections Will Spark Public Outrage: Mojibur Rahman Monju

Mojibur Rahman Monju, Chairman of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, stated that most leaders of the "fallen" Awami League are involved in mass killings and widely despised. He warned that their participation in elections would provoke public outrage, making it impossible to manage the situation, and thus, their participation is not feasible.

He made these remarks on Saturday during a shadow parliament session organized at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) to discuss the roles of the Election Commission, candidates, and voters in ensuring fair elections. The session was chaired by Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, Chairman of Debate for Democracy.

Mojibur Rahman Monju further said, “There is no risk of civil war surrounding the upcoming elections. The biggest challenge will be creating a level playing field. If a fair electoral environment cannot be ensured, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus should step down. If the Election Commission fails to exercise its authority to stop elections in case of irregularities, it will be deemed a failure.”

He added, “Propaganda about a single party coming to power could create a dangerous situation. During the fascist Hasina regime, the entire electoral system was corrupted. The traditional constituency-based voting system has failed due to corruption. While the proportional representation (PR) system is supported, it risks creating a hung parliament. Therefore, a mixed electoral system could be adopted this time. In the future, the formation of the Election Commission by both the government and opposition parties will be a significant achievement of a consensus commission. This will strengthen the Election Commission and enhance its capacity.” In his speech, Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, Chairman of Debate for Democracy, said, “The defeated fascist group has opened an office in a neighboring country and is conspiring against the nation. They are attempting to create divisions among the forces that supported the mass uprising to sabotage the elections. Some are raising fears of a one-eleven scenario or civil war, which is baseless. For this reason, anti-fascist unity is essential. Political parties have not yet reached a consensus on the electoral system. There is talk of all parties signing the July Charter soon, but I am concerned about the lack of unity. However, for the sake of democracy, the country, and the nation, all parties should make some compromises and sign the July Charter.”

During the event organized by Debate for Democracy, titled “The Role of Voters and Candidates is More Crucial than the Election Commission for a Fair Election,” debaters from Dhaka College defeated those from Dhaka Commerce College, earning the honor of victory. The judges for the competition were Professor Abu Muhammad Rais, journalists Mainul Alam, Kazi Zebel, Saidur Rahman, and Shirina Khatun Jati. At the end of the competition, the participating teams were awarded trophies, crests, and certificates.