Afsan Chowdhury speaks to DOT :
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) can demand re-election while Awami League can dismiss it. According to the government, the 11th parliamentary elections were held in a free and fair manner. Therefore, there is no question of re-election. Now let us wait and see which way the wind blows.
This is the scenario of our politics. There is no or very weak political structure in our country. Political parties have very little importance to the people. Conversely, people have very little importance to the political parties. Ours is an administrative state. People do not bother about the demands of the politicians. Now BNP can demand re-election while AL can dismiss it. It is of little importance to the people. These have now become personal problems of the political parties. People do not consider them to their own problems.
Mass media and politicians think that people are the be-all and end-all of any movement. However, people no longer believe in it. Because, politics does not ensure food, clothing and security. So, they are not enthusiastic about politics. People do not bother if AL or BNP in power.
Afsan Chowdhury is a senior journalist & political analyst
Interviewed by Khairul Alam, translated by Hossen Sohel