Syed Ishtiaq Reza
In the war for votes, it is not unsurprising to see candidates gain and lose ground; after all, the battle for the election has begun, there are campaigning going on everywhere, we can all see it.
In Bangladeshi elections, it is usually a fight between two symbols – the Boat and the Paddy. This time however, with the Oikyafront joining, the Paddy has expanded. And on the other side, the presence of the Grand Alliance has given the Boat a significant ground to stand on. Nevertheless, doubt still exits. When the campaigning still hadn’t begun, two Awami League candidates from Noakhali and Faridpur were killed. This is an extremely dark side of the election. It would be better for all if such ominous acts didn’t take place.
The people want a fair atmosphere for this election. We all cry for military forces in the case for a fair election. We talk about the Election Commission’s duties. But I believe that until the political parties change their attitude, a fair election would not be possible. The current voting environment is very positive. We want this positive environment to last. Let each party campaign for themselves, without any sort of conflicts. Thus, we will get an participatory election.
If the election is fair and transparent, after-election events will go smoothly without any trouble. And if the election is questionable, the next five years will plague the country. Thus a free, fair and transparent election is vital for the nation’s future.
Syed Ishtiaq Reza is a senior journalist
Interview by Khairul Alam
Translated by Arafat Hasan