Next election and prosperous Bangladesh

In view of the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections, all the activities of the Election Commission are now at the last stage. The schedule is expected to be announced in the first or second week of November. Meanwhile, before the announcement of the election schedule, the opposition parties are trying to meet their demands through street agitation. On the other hand, the ruling Awami League is trying to hold the election from a stubborn position by staging counter-programmes.

The question is, where is the end of this demonstration of supremacy on the streets by the government and the main opposition? So, can dialogue solve the crisis? BNP, considered to be the main opposition party, is saying that they will not participate in the elections unless the next national poll is held under a non-partisan government. They are not even willing to sit in any discussion or dialogue with the Awami League government. They are firm that they would negotiate only if the government resigns and elections are announced under a non-partisan government. That is why theystaging agitation programmes and showingmuscle power. The BNP is trying to force the government to fulfill their demands taking to the street. The Awami League government is also not willing to accept the demand for holding the elections under a non-partisan government. But the same BNP participated in the election under the Awami League government in 2018 under the leadership of Dr Kamal Hossain, the alliance named Jatiya Oikya Front. They also joined a dialogue at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before the elections.

 A delegation of the European Union is working to assess the pre-election environment amid such conflicting positions of the government and the BNP. The United States has already announced new visa policies and restrictions for Bangladesh. Apart from that, there are legal issues involving BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia's illness and treatment abroad. As a result, the government is under some pressure, it is a fact. So, why Awami League is still in a stubborn position ignoring BNP's movement and all the external pressure? Where does the party get so much power? In such case, I think, although Awami League seems to be so strong and powerful, the actual source of this power is the constitution of Bangladesh. That is why Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is saying, 'Elections must be held at a specific time and that will be according to the constitution. That's why they will do what they can do politically.

The importance of polling is immense in forming the government or changing the government of any democratic country. In that case, if the people of our country elect competent and patriotic public representatives with their education, knowledge, spirit, then the country will move forward towards prosperity. For example, in the 1970 elections, the people of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) voted for the Awami League and stepped on a ladder to achieve the country's independence. Everyone knows about the history of our liberation war and independent Bangladesh under the leadership of Bangabandhu. But even after the independence, the Pakistani communal ghost was not disappear from the country.

If you review the history of Bangladesh and the Bangalis, it will be found that the nation has historically been the bearer of non-communal spirit. People of various religions including Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and minorities have lived in this area since ancient period. They had a peaceful coexistence irrespective of caste, race and religiHowever, it  cannot be said that we didn’t engage in communal disputes or riots at all. These unwanted conflicts and fights never went beyond the control of the state and the government. But the dream of a peaceful, non-communal Bangladesh achieved through the great liberation war under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was shattered aftet the August 15 assassination. But, after the dark period is over and Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina is currently working hard to turn that dream into a reality. I think, there is no alternative of Sheikh Hasina to realize the dream of a non-communal Bangladesh.

 But who will stop the pro-Pakistani politicians and some dishonest clerics who are constantly sowing the seeds of sectarianism and bigotry in the minds of the young generation? Again our constitution itself contains the sence of  communalism. Islam, the state religion, has not yet been removed from it. In my opinion, a democratic state cannot have a state religion. If we cannot follow the spirit of the great liberation war, the principles and ideals of Bangabandhu at the highest level, then the golden Bangladesh will not be established. Therefore, in the implementation of Bangabandhu's ideals, everyone, regardless of party affiliation, should form a united resistance against the evil forces that are continuously conspiring at the national and international level to destroy the religious neutrality described in the 1972 constitution. But is it possible that Sheikh Hasina alone will build non-communal golden Bangladesh? To establish a non-communal golden Bangladesh, everyone in this country must work together.

I have been a teacher since before the independence, so I know how difficult it is to complete the task. Because since 1975 to 1996, a large part of the generation that grew up in this country did not get proper schooling. Before 1975 assassination, all the books that were available or taught to the students as textbooks contained the true history of the war of liberation. How beautiful those were! I have never regretted teaching then. However, after 1975, an attempt was made to take the generation back to the Pakistani ideology by teaching wrong history. The new generation was made aware that everything that happened in the liberation war of Bangladesh was not true. They even tried to mislead the new generation of this era by creating fabricated history against Awami League and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. They did not think how much shame it is for a country and a nation.

At one time I thought that a large part of the new generation of this time is self-centered. But disproving my assumptions and frustrations, this young generation rose to the stage of mass awakening to demand justice for the war criminals. My heart was filled with pride. However, it must be remembered that the anti-independence people are lurking in every corner of this country. So, we have to remember that the debt of the martyred freedom fighter and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman can be repaid only by creating a non-communal and harmonious society.

​Awami League's connection with Bangladesh's independence and democracy is inseparable. However, after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family on August 15, 1975, the trend of undemocratic rule began in this country. And Awami League has had to fight for a long time to end that undemocratic regime and ensure people's right to vote. Awami League's current achievements are many times more than its failures. I am not only talking about economic development, I am also talking about the development of values. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is on the way to transition from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a developing country by crossing a difficult path. Implementing the Government's Vision 2021 is also a major achievement. Sheikh Hasina's dynamic leadership and long-term planning, achievement of MDGs, implementation of SDGs including education, health, gender equality, agriculture, reduction of poverty line, increase in life expectancy, export-oriented industrialization, sea conquest, 100 special economic zones, apparel industry, pharmaceutical industry, increase in export earnings was possible. Various indicators have accelerated. The country's mega projects including Padma Bridge, Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant, Payra Deep Sea Port, Dhaka Metro Rail have opened the door to the country's development.

Finally, I love Bangladesh and I believe in the spirit of the liberation war. I believe that Awami League can deliver deeply and sustain the country's prosperity by fighting undomestic and foreign evil forces; Let them win the next election.

 

Author: Educationist and wife of martyr  AFM Abdul Alim Chowdhury.