The ruling Awami League has started working to bring all the political parties to the polls to make it competitive as it hopes to win the 12th parliamentary elections to seal a fourth consecutive victory.
Party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the top leaders to prepare for the elections, to be held at the end of next year, as she hopes it will be participatory.
At the Central Working Committee meeting held on Saturday night, Sheikh Hasina hinted that, as the voting would be held using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), all the party candidates would have to pass the electoral race based on their popularity among the voters.
As part of the election preparation, the Awami League has already conducted surveys in 100 constituencies where the ruling party’s candidates have higher chances of winning the polls, according to its Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua.
Also Read - Quader asks BNP to join polls for its existence
Talking to Dhaka Tribune on Sunday, Biplab said: "The prime minister ordered surveys in 100 constituencies, and the result is very positive. We assume that no one can defeat a united Awami League in the next national polls."
Two ministers – Obaidul Quader and Dr Hasan Mahmud – have briefed the media regarding the outcomes of the meeting, and stressed that Sheikh Hasina wanted the BNP to participate in the elections.
However, BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir responded to the call at a press briefing on Sunday, reiterating that the BNP would not participate in any election under the Awami League government.
Also Read - Fakhrul: BNP will not join talks on polls until Awami League govt quits
Election manifesto on the cards
According to meeting insiders, Sheikh Hasina asked leaders to update the party’s charter and prepare the election manifesto since many of the election pledges had already been fulfilled in the last three consecutive terms.
Asked about it, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Sunday said: “We’re hopeful about preparing a draft election manifesto by next June. Some new goals will be set eyeing the next parliamentary elections.”
According to Presidium Member Matia Chowdhury, no matter whether the BNP joins the polls or not, other political parties will participate and the elections will be participatory.
Regarding Fakhrul’s comment, former minister Matia Chowdhury said: “Before the 11th parliamentary elections too, the BNP said that they would not participate but they finally gave candidates.
Also Read - Awami League’s 22nd National Council in December
“Let them say whatever they like…there are some people who will muddy the water,” she told Dhaka Tribune. “Weren’t Rumeen Farhana and Harunur Rashid elected from the BNP?”
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said: “If the BNP does not exercise its rights, its existence will fall into crisis. And I do believe that they will not create such a situation."
Seeking anonymity, party insiders said that senior Awami League leaders would communicate with all registered political parties to ensure their participation.
“We’ll communicate with some senior leaders of other parties and alliances to bring them to the polls and increase the number of political parties and national political figures in the next Parliament,” a cabinet member said, asking not to be named.
