Reportedly, the ambassadors of top donor countries in Bangladesh have been urging the major political parties behind the scenes that they should not only extend their unstinted cooperation in holding the coming parliamentary elections peacefully and, more significantly, accept the results gracefully and in good faith.
The exhortation of the diplomats is very timely and appropriate. The same reflects their concern for Bangladesh which their countries have been supporting in a very constructive way through aid, trade, grants, loans, etc. Therefore, they have understandable concern that these supports can continue in the future and would not be wasted by political instability and violence.
The leadership of our main political parties must realise that in an election contest-like in a sporting event— there will have to be a winner and loser. The political parties must wind up their political activities and antagonisms immediately after the election and concentrate fully on the parliament to be formed.
All should turn to the business of running the country meaning essentially the economic and other activities so that it can maintain its essential economic, social and political good health. Violence and anarchy let loose by the defeated in the election will serve no purpose. It will only drag the country down to the worst pit of social and political despair and economic ruination. Therefore, there has to be a united and shared feeling among all to accept the people’s verdict in the election to preserve the highest interest of the country.
Already the leaders of one of the two main political parties is raising prior objections about the manner of holing the election. They are specially accusing the Election Commission (EC) and the government for creating conditions unfavorable for their opponents. They even told forthright an audience that the incumbent government is engaging in activities designed to favor the ruling party. These are serious allegations and would seem unjustified on impartial examination. Let us hope that such untenable reasoning would not be stretched too far and that that the election results would be accepted by all in good grace in line with the expectations also of the majority people in the country.
It is extremely important that our political leaders specially the ones mainly in the current opposition should finally resolve to be more realistic and sober in their reactions understanding the hard realities. There is general realization among all about what the outcome of the next general election could be in the backdrop of highly satisfactory works done in different spheres by the present government and ruling party. Therefore, a thumping victory is expected for the incumbents in power whether their political opponents accept this or not. Also centering on election unfairness, the defeated in the election will find it impossible to raise hue and cry and mobilize any movement in support of their views. Rather they will find themselves more rejected by mass people for their usual reaction of ‘election is all right if I win but unfair if I lose it.’