Editorial
Two leaders' participation in election
It should not be impeded
THE election tempo has been set in motion with the EC announcing the election dates for the parliament and the upazillas, and, other than certain conditions put forward by a few parties on certain electoral issues, none of them had so far taken an anti-election stand. We, however, note that the Awami League and BNP have now taken a stand not to participate in the forthcoming parliamentary election if their party chiefs are prevented from participating in the same.
The issue of participation in the election, we feel, is very clear. As stated by one of the election commissioners recently, anyone not convicted under the emergency provisions is free to put themselves up as candidates in the next election, further clarifying that there is nothing that disqualifies the leaders of the two major parties since they have not been convicted under any charge as yet.
The latest position on the parliamentary election taken by the two parties appears to be predicated entirely on their speculation that their party chiefs may not be able to contest the polls. This has, naturally, created misgivings about holding of the election. Certain advisors to the CTG had met the two leaders recently, at home and abroad, thus we fail to understand why, in spite of that, the parties do not feel assured of the government's intentions.
We are not certain as to the basis of their misgivings, but if the position of the two political parties stems from an apprehension that there might be impediments contrived to keep Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina from participating in the electoral process, we cannot but be concerned. We would like to believe that there are no such plans whatsoever from any quarters, and our suggestion to any quarter that might be contemplating such an option is that they should desist from it.
As of today, the cases against the two leaders are proceeding in accordance with the law of the land. We hope that law would follow its own course now and even after election, and that it is in character with the rule of law demonstrated in future. That being so, even an elected representative will have to submit to the process of law and accept the verdict of the court whatever that might be.
Let us also restate that it is for the political parties to choose who their leaders should be, and who should be their party representatives in the parliament, and any restraint placed on them that might appear contrived, will be suicidal for democracy, not mention, bad for the country.
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