Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haq has alleged that those who fear defeat or heavy losses in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election are the ones trying to derail the electoral process and extend the tenure of the unelected government.
Speaking as the chief guest at a mock parliament organised by Debate for Democracy on Saturday (29 November) at the BFDC conference hall in Dhaka, Saiful Haq said the Election Commission has so far taken no visible or effective steps to curb the influence of black money and muscle power in the election.
“The next parliament, like the previous ones, will largely become a club of the super-rich and owners of black money. This raises serious concerns that the core objectives of last year’s mass uprising may indirectly be defeated,” he warned. He pointed out that the election expenditure limit has been raised from Tk 25 lakh to Tk 35–60 lakh depending on the number of voters in a constituency, while candidates’ deposits have more than doubled. He criticised the finalisation of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) without consultation with political parties.
Referring to the Awami League’s 15–16-year rule, Saiful Haq said the previous government “staged farcical dramas in the name of elections” and completely blocked the democratic path to power alternation. “To overthrow that system, more than 2,000 martyrs had to sacrifice their lives in last year’s July-August mass uprising,” he added.
However, he expressed cautious optimism about the upcoming polls: “We are not going to enter heaven through this election, but at least citizens will be able to exercise their voting rights without fear, threats or inducements and vote for the party or candidate of their choice.”
Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran said no vested quarter would be able to obstruct the election by resorting to isolated acts of terrorism or arson. Addressing the ongoing debates within BNP-Jamaat circles, Kiran remarked, “The arguments and differences of opinion within BNP-Jamaat will not hinder the forthcoming election. Such disagreements are the beauty of democracy. However, criminalisation in politics and elections must be stopped. There should be alternation of power, not alternation of corruption.”
He further stated, “Body-worn cameras for police at polling stations have been planned this time. If the Election Commission, political parties and voters do not act responsibly, ballot boxes may again be found in paddy or jute fields as in the past — something we do not want. I believe the party that forms the next government will run the state giving due importance to the opposition and dissenting views.”
In the mock parliament debate competition, Eden Mohila College emerged as champion while Dhaka College became runner-up.
