Bottom Line
One week to go
BANGLADESH stands at a crossroads, and the path to a new, invigorated Bangladesh depends on how the new political forces that emerge after the national elections on December 29 accept an environment characterised by mutual tolerance and respect, rule of law and accountability to people.
It is reported by NGO Sujon that Bangladesh Nationmalist Partyy (BNP) has nominated 4 convicts, 16 accused, 12 loan defaulters, 7 relatives of top party leaders and one corruption suspect, while Awami League (AL) nominated 10 accused, 1 convict, 8 loan defaulters, two relatives of top party leaders and one corruption suspect. JP nominated 1 convict, and 4 loan defaulters, while Jamaat-e-Islami nominated 3 accused and one corruption suspect, and other parties nominated 10 loan defaulters (The Daily Star: December 4, 2008).
Observers and some media have pointed out that the nomination of candidates shows that leaders of major political parties have not changed their old mind-set, and rejected many persons who advocated reforms of parties.
The major parties -- AL and BNP -- released their election manifestos on December 12 and 13 (AL in English and BNP in Bangla), respectively.
When comparing the AL 23-point mainfesto with the 35-point manifesto of BNP, observers say that many of their promises for good governance, accountability for their actions, independence of judiciary, strengthening of Anti-Corruption Commission, and political decisions on consensus basis on important national issues are similar.
Direct election for women, instead of reserved seats in the parliament, has been delayed until 2021 by both major parties.Women rights groups view it as disappointing.
According to some analysts, there appear to be three major differences between the two manifestos. AL's manifesto provides a vision for the country for 2021 and deals with day-to-day issues, while BNP's manifesto enumerates primarily contemporary burning issues.
Second, BNP's manifesto criticses the caretaker government while AL's manifesto states that the caretaker government has ruled "with various limitations, weaknesses, lapses as well as some successes."
Third, and most importantly, there is a difference in the way the two parties end their manifestos with slogans..
AL concludes with three slogans -- "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu and Long Live Bangladesh," while BNP ends its manifesto with "Let Allah provide strength to serve the country for benefit of people, Allah Hafez, Bangladesh Zindabad, and BNP Zindabad." (English translation is mine)
If one analyses the slogans, it appears that AL's slogans are primarily based on pro-liberation ethos and separation of religion from politics, while BNP's slogans attempt to emphasise the link between religion and politics and uses non-Bangla words such as "Zindabad."
Some observers said that major parties have not taken a clear stand on the issues of hartal and siege programs. Furthermore, many political analysts argue that major parties did not say what they will do if not voted to power.
It is reported that there are more female voters than male voters. 33% of voters are reportedly first-time voters. About 5 million voters who are prisoners in 67 jails across the country will be, for the first time, eligible to vote through postal ballot. Furthermore, there is a provision for "no" vote in the ballot paper.
A total of 49 women candidates will contest the national elections, although 82 women candidates submitted nomination papers from 88 constituencies, compared to 38 women candidates during the 2001 national elections from 46 constituencies and 36 women candidates during the 1996 general polls from 48 constituencies.
A few innovative voter's awareness programs have commenced for publicity, asking voters not to vote for convicts or accused peopl, or loan defaulters. The programs explain who to vote for, who not to vote for, how to vote and how to identify the right person to vote for, and why voters should not vote for certain people.
During the presentation of a short film-sketch in one of the programs, a wife requests voters not to vote for her criminal husband, and a son asks people not to vote for his father as he is a loan-defaulter. Each of the programs ends with a jingle, Amar vote ami debo, dekhe shune, chinney debo (My vote belongs to me and I will vote after due consideration and after identifying the right person). Some of the film-sketches are shown through various media across the country.
Corruption and other ills of society cannot be removed by law or by force. Unless people elect honest and competent people to the parliament, corruption or abuse of power cannot be totally eliminated. There is a saying: "People get the government they deserve."
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