Political parties need to find common ground for free and fair election

Politicians and members of civil society have stressed finding a common ground among the political parties to ensure a free and fair election as the country gears up for the 12th parliamentary election, likely to be held in January, 2024.

“Although finding common ground is very difficult, it is possible if the parties look to increase understanding and appreciation of the other,” Sharmeen Murshid, the chief executive officer of local election observer group Brotee, said at a seminar in the capital on Thursday.

Dhaka Tribune, jointly with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka, organized the seminar, titled “Common Ground: How to get to free and fair election” at a hotel in Gulshan. 

Zafar Sobhan, Dhaka Tribune's editor-in-chief, moderated the session, which was attended by diplomats, academics, journalists, and members of civil society organizations. 

Zafar Sobhan  Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

At the beginning of the session, Norwegian Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen addressed the audience. He hoped for a participatory, free and fair election in Bangladesh. 

At the seminar, the speakers also emphasized the importance of consensus building among the political parties to prevent any possibility of further political instability as well as to level the playing field ahead of the 2024 parliamentary election. 

“From the Awami League, we're very much willing to have these discussions. Because we believe that as long as we're open to the idea of realistic discussions, we can make changes happen,” Nahim Razzaq, member of the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs, said during his speech. 

Nahim Razzaq  Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

He also urged other political parties and civil society organizations to come forward and engage in open discussions. 

Rumeen Farhana  Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Former BNP lawmaker Barrister Rumeen Farhana also stressed the need for open discussions among political parties. However, she called on the government to form a caretaker government to ensure a credible and fair election. 

“An acceptable and participatory election under a non-partisan caretaker government is a bare necessity in this situation,” she said, adding: “It will pave the way for a democratic Bangladesh which will ensure all the rights of the citizens.”

Zonayed Saki  Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Zonayed Saki, the coordinator of Ganosamhoti Andolan, echoed her comments. 

“People in Bangladesh are now eager to exercise their right to vote. The government needs to step down and establish a caretaker government to facilitate a credible and participatory election,” Saki said. 

He further called on the government to come forward and open up discussions among the political parties to find a common ground. 

Professor Rounaq Jahan Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Among others, prominent political scientist Professor Rounaq Jahan was also present. She advised all the parties to agree to mitigate the differences and suggested considering a potential electoral reform that would include proportional representation. 

“Can you come to an agreement that whoever gets elected will not get back ‘winners take it all' system? In my opinion, that is the reason nobody wants to give up power,” she said. 

Where are the people

Professor Rounaq Jahan also called on the political parties to meaningfully engage with the people in their discussions as they're the main drivers in a functioning democracy. 

She said: “Earlier, there were leaders but not many workers. But now we see that big parties have huge workers. But where are people? Where is the space for people? You have a party, leaders and workers, but where are the people and how do you interact with them?”

Sharmeen Murshid  Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

On finding common ground, CEO of Brotee Sharmeen Murshid said: “Listening is the first step to finding common ground. If we don't listen to one another, we don't understand one another and if we don't understand one another, we don't find any common ground.

“We as a nation emerged as a result of a government not wanting to transfer power in 1970. There was a fair election but the government did not want to transfer power. It led to radicalization and extreme divide which led to a war of freedom. That is the legacy that the people of Bangladesh carry,” she further said, citing the history of Bangladesh's struggle for freedom. 

Stressing the need to recognize the undemocratic practices by both civil and military governments, Sharmin said the civil governments in Bangladesh have done a poor job in building a democratic society and institutions and have done poorly in organizing fair elections.  

Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Former foreign secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said: “The outcome of the 2008 election was acceptable because the election commission did a good job.”

Terming the experience of involvement of the international community as not a very happy one, he said: “The 2008 was an outcome of the involvement of the international community and that was something not very healthy for Bangladesh. I think we should be able to solve our problem.”

Mohammad A Arafat  Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Chairman of Suchinta Foundation Mohammad A Arafat said: “We could reach common grounds a couple of times in the past, but those were not sustained. So arriving at the common ground is not good enough. We talk about holding the next election free and fair, but why not we talk about holding all the elections free and fair.”