Bangladesh's Political Parties Clash Over Election Order
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Synopsis
Dhaka, Feb 13 (NationPress) The Election Commission of Bangladesh has announced preparations for general elections after December 2025, leading to a conflict between the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami over whether local elections should occur first.
Key Takeaways
- The Election Commission plans to hold general elections after December 2025.
- BNP, led by Khaleda Zia, opposes prioritizing local elections.
- Jamaat-e-Islami prefers local elections before parliamentary ones.
- The political tension has increased due to contrasting stances on election order.
- Two reform commissions support the idea of local elections first.
Dhaka, Feb 13 (NationPress) The Election Commission of Bangladesh has announced its intent to conduct general elections sometime after December 2025, leading to a clash between two former allies, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, over the order of elections, with Jamaat advocating for local elections first.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, guided by prominent opposition figure Khaleda Zia, opposes the idea of prioritizing local elections over national ones.
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August 2024, the BNP has positioned itself as the largest political entity in Bangladesh.
On Thursday, the party's Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir asserted that emphasizing local government elections before national elections is a strategy that could destabilize the nation.
“The quicker the general elections occur, the more stable the political landscape will be in Bangladesh, leading the populace toward a state of tranquility,” local media reported Alamgir as stating.
He stressed the ongoing necessity of restoring stability and good governance in the country.
Conversely, Jamaat-e-Islami, a former ally turned rival of the BNP in the post-Hasina landscape, insists on conducting local government elections prior to parliamentary ones.
On Thursday, a Jamaat delegation, led by Secretary General Golam Parwar, conferred with election commissioners regarding various electoral matters.
Following their meeting, Jamaat representatives conveyed to the media their desire for local government elections to be prioritized according to the public's wishes.
This latest dispute stems from recent comments made by the Bangladesh Election Commission, indicating preparations for national elections in or after December 2025.
The Commission clarified that it is not currently organizing any other elections but is prepared to facilitate local government elections if the government opts for them before the national polls.
In addition to opposing Jamaat's preference for local elections, the BNP is also against their suggestion of implementing a proportional representation voting system in national elections.
The tension between these former allies has noticeably escalated following the Election Commission's recent statements.
Two reform commissions established by the interim government under Muhammad Yunus have similarly recommended conducting local government elections prior to national ones.
