After the dramatic events of 1975, Khandaker Mushtaq, in a speech on the night of Shab-e-Qadr, announced that national elections would be held in February of the following year. Mushtaq hoped that the dissatisfaction with the previous regime would work in his favour, anticipating that the people would support him. Ironically, the election didn’t take place until three years later, and Mushtaq himself was excluded from participating.
Following the military coup led by Khaled Mosharraf on November 3, 1975, Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem assumed the presidency. He proceeded with preparations for the promised election, even having the voter lists printed. However, the process was soon disrupted by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. Bhashani firmly opposed holding an election at that time, and not even Chief of Army Staff Ziaur Rahman could persuade him otherwise.
Upon returning from medical treatment in London on September 12, 1975, Maulana Bhashani declared that no election should take place, as the people were not ready. Even the Muslim League, which had been defeated in the 1970 election, was in favour of holding elections. But Bhashani insisted that the government should first arrest corrupt officials, arms dealers, and black marketeers. He warned President Sayem of severe consequences if he attempted to move forward with the election.
Ziaur Rahman, too, found himself at odds with Maulana Bhashani. When Zia suggested elections, Bhashani rebuked him sharply. He cited the example of England, where elections were postponed for six years due to emergency situations, arguing that Bangladesh was in no state to hold elections after years of political turmoil.
Bhashani feared that elections would return the country to the hands of corrupt and exploitative forces. He stressed that elections were becoming a transaction of money and power, where votes were bought, and politicians were driven by greed. He urged a pause to the electoral process until law and order were restored and the country was cleansed of those he deemed unfit for leadership.
Fast forward to today, in 2024, Bangladesh faces similar challenges. The focus must be on restoring law and order, boosting remittances, increasing exports, and improving production. If the government fails to address these critical issues, political competition for power will intensify, and the economy will suffer. The risk of unrest among political parties is real, and without stability, an election might not be the solution.
Maulana Bhashani’s warning resonates even today: If the government does not act to preserve peace, the nation could fall into the hands of miscreants once more. Ziaur Rahman heeded Bhashani’s advice and steered the country toward economic growth and stability. Bangladesh today stands in need of strong, reliable leadership to navigate the complexities of the present.
Nuzhat Rifa is a lawyer. She can be reached at ehsannuzhat@yahoo.com.