Professor Abu Sayeed, Former State Minister for Information : The statement of those who are clamoring that the upcoming general election is not going to be participatory without the participation of a particular political party is a purposive one.
There are certain yardsticks to measure a participatory election. Can the people cast their votes? Can the majority voters exercise their franchise? Can they elect their representatives of their choice?
The people’s participation is most important, participation of political parties are secondary here. The history also speaks for it. That’s why the statement of those people who think that the upcoming parliamentary election is not going to be participatory without the participation of a particular political party is a purposive one.
Their statement also goes against the traditional norms and practice of democracy. Some of the political parties and foreign organizations are bringing an issue to the fore regarding the forthcoming general elections. The issue is participatory elections. As a matter of fact, they are placing the demand being sympathized with a particular political party of Bangladesh.
Now the question has been raised- participatory polls stand for the participation of all the political parties in an election. The question is here. We will be able to see that the participation of all parties does not always refer to participatory polls if we take the near past into account.
National Awami Party (NAP) under the leadership of Mowlana Bhasani was one of the largest parties of the then East Pakistan during 1970. This large party did not take part in the elections held in 1970. Rather, the party boycotted the polls. Nobody say that the election of 1970 was not participatory as the NAP boycotted it. The history does not approve it either.
Translated by Hossen Sohel