Poll concludes peacefully, let the journey begin after apprehensive days

The culmination of all the excitement and anticipation has finally led to a peaceful conclusion of the election, which is reassuring. However, in several places, there have been some unfortunate incidents. Not only in South Asia but also in many countries around the world, there have been incidents of violence surrounding national elections. Even in the United States, there have been instances of violence before and after the past presidential elections.

Therefore, despite the internal efforts of all relevant parties, the issue of some isolated incidents is not significantly emphasized. It is crucial to remember alongside this that any form of violence is not acceptable, whether it is through excuse or examples. In the future, concerted efforts must be made to bring violence to a minimum, and additional measures should be taken to ensure a violence-free environment.

There were concerns about the presence of voters in the election, especially as some political parties, including the BNP, boycotted the vote. However, despite the absence of a significant voter turnout, over 30 percent of votes have been cast. Those who came to the polling centers have been able to cast their votes according to their preferences, which is a positive aspect amid the challenges.

Now the vote counting is underway, and the election results are expected to be announced before tomorrow morning. It is hoped that the winning party will form a new government in accordance with the constitution. The anticipation is that with the new possibilities, the journey towards a smarter Bangladesh will begin.

However, even after the election, there are some concerns. The major concern is the post-election violence this time. We all know that in many constituencies, leaders of the Awami League have run as independent candidates against the officially nominated candidates of the Awami League. As a result, internal conflict within the Awami League becomes evident across the country even before the results of the election are announced.

Even on the day of the election, images of those confrontations were witnessed in many places. If the conflict within the Awami League persists even after the election, it can lead to significant instability throughout the country. This is because the Awami League is the largest political party in the country, with numerous leaders and activists nationwide. Therefore, any internal conflict within the Awami League surrounding the election can potentially escalate violence across the country. For this reason, it is imperative for the central leadership of the Awami League to take strong measures immediately.

There are still more concerns. The global political power, the United States, was quite assertive in pushing forward their agenda in the recent election. Before the election, the various priorities of the appointed U.S. Ambassador in Dhaka were also evident.

However, visibly, the diplomatic efforts surrounding the elections in Bangladesh under the Biden administration have been unsuccessful. Consequently, there is concern about what steps the United States will take. Many are saying that a significant diplomatic rebuke against Bangladesh may be imminent. However, that fear cannot be ruled out. Yet, it is also true that, in the current moment of global politics, the United States faces substantial challenges in maintaining a singular authority.

In Ukraine and Gaza, Biden's foreign policy has somewhat reversed, leaving the United States in an awkward position. Even some influential countries in Western Europe have created a visible distance with the Biden administration.

Concerning Bangladesh's election both Russia and China have criticized the policies of the United States. On the flip side, Bangladesh's long-standing friend and neighbor, India, has mentioned internal matters of Bangladesh in the context of Bangladesh's national election and has expressed unwavering support for the decisions of the people. As a result, taking any hasty decision against Bangladesh will not be easy for the Biden administration in this situation.

Even after announcing the boycott of the elections by the BNP and calling for protests, they have not gained public support for their proposed agenda. Even a majority of BNP leaders and activists have not been actively involved in the proposed initiatives. As a result, BNP has once again stepped on the wrong path of election boycott politics.

There is a significant concern about violence and acts of sabotage against the BNP and its political ally Jamaat-e-Islami. Similar incidents of violence and terrorism, as witnessed during the political programs of BNP-Jamaat in the 2013-14 period, have been observed again before this elections.

The recent gruesome violence involving arson on a passenger train at Gopibagh has been witnessed by the citizens. As a result, BNP and its allies may resort to large-scale terrorism again to destabilize the new government.

Above all, our beloved homeland is Bangladesh. Despite political differences, we must keep this truth in our hearts. For a peaceful and prosperous future, 30 million people sacrificed their lives in the great Liberation War of 1971.

With the pride of that sacrifice embedded in our hearts, let peace prevail under the new government and may the establishment of human rights be of the utmost importance. Let the journey towards a smart Bangladesh begin with auspicious strides – now, that is our hope.

Author: Journalist