The govt too must give some leeway

When 23 leaders of the ruling 14 party alliance met with 20 leaders of the Jatiya Oikya Jote on Thursday, it was hard to tell whether that was the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has agreed to sit with other parties too. He held dialogue with the Jukta Front leaders yesterday Friday. It is hoped that the dialogue continues.

The best way to resolve problems and crises is through dialogue rather than the unsavoury alternative of clashes and conflict. No one wants to see a repetition of the 2014-15 violence and so the ongoing dialogue is a welcome intervention. There may have been differences between the two sides on the first day of the dialogue, but both the sides expressed their hope for free, fair and credible elections.
The seven-point demand of the Jatiya Oikya Front stressed the need to remove all obstacles to free, fair and inclusive elections. And prime minister Sheikh Hasina, on her part, assured the opposition that the elections would be free and fair.
No matter what clout the election commission may legally hold, they do not have sufficient manpower required to conduct the election in 300 seats. They have to take assistance from the public administration and the law enforcement agencies. But if those assigned to election responsibilities do not carry out their duties with honesty, efficiency and neutrality, then it will be impossible for the commission to conduct a free and fair election. In the recent city corporation elections we saw that the election commission simply shut its eyes to the irregularities all around. This should not be repeated in the national election.
During the autocratic rule, the popular slogan was ‘I will cast my vote and vote for whomever I want.’ It was because people were not able to vote freely that this slogan gained currency. It would be a shame for the ruling quarters if that slogan was revived during democratic rule.
On the very day that the highest level of government gave assurance that there will be no political harassment and no politically motivated arrests will be made, 184 leaders and activists of the opposition were arrested. Even a physically disabled person was accused of sabotage and imprisoned. How can a disabled persons who can hardly move on his own, be guilty of sabotage?
It is most important to have an environment conducive to the elections in place. Yet at present the state machinery is being used for the ruling party’s political campaign at every government and ruling party programme. But the moment the opposition takes up election campaigning, its leaders and activists are arrested and harassed. This hampers their campaign and is a contradiction to democracy. A level playing field is essential for a proper election environment and this should be ensured before the election schedule is announced.
It was in 2014 that the exception occurred of having a parliament intact during the parliamentary election. All previous elections took place after dissolution of the parliament. The government maintains that they have carried out unprecedented development in the country and they want cooperation in this regard from all. If the government is so confident about its performance, then where is the problem in dissolving the parliament before the polls? The government has said it will not do anything outside of the constitution. But even constitutional experts say it is constitutionally possible to dissolve the parliament and hold the election. The opposition has made many concessions. It is now time for the government to grant some leeway.