by Fazlur Rahman Raju in Dhaka Tribune, April 20, 2018
With only eight months to go, left leaning political parties are yet to decide on participating in the 11th national elections or boycotting it.
Leaders of leftist parties think that a free, fair, and participatory election is not possible under any political government.
They said if Awami League forms an election-time government without dissolving parliament, then they will boycott the elections.
But they also hoped the scenario will change in the coming months and will make a decision after observing the situation.
Several senior left political leaders said that if they participate in the election then they will contest under an alliance but will not join any existing political alliance such as the 14-party alliance led by the Awami League, and the 20-party alliance led by the BNP.
However, parties have already started forming a joint platform to participate in the election. They have formed two major alliances like the Jukto Front (United Front) and Jukto Morcha (United Alliance).
Four parties, namely Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Nagorik Oikya form the Jukto Front, with former president and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Chief, AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, as its chairman.
On the other hand, the Democratic Left Alliance (Ganotantrik Bam Morcha)—comprised of Biplobi Workers Party of Bangladesh, United Communist League, Socialist Party of Bangladesh-Marxist, Gana Sanghati, Ganatantrik Biplobi Party, Socialist Movement and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Basad) — has formed a new alliance named Jukto Morcha with the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and the Socialist Party of Bangladesh aiming to participate in the elections and building a strong political force.
Apart from forming alliances, left parties will also try to launch movements to put pressure on the Awami League led government to fulfill their demands, such as stopping the use of black money and muscle power in the elections, not increasing nomination submission fees, and forming of an election time government by the Election Commission instead of the ruling party, or parliament, and others.
JSD General Secretary Abdul Malek Raton told the Dhaka Tribune they are now trying to march forward with Jukto Front.
“We hope the current scenario will change before the elections. We will decide whether to participate or not in the election after observing the situation.
“We have to wait until September or October to talk about a poll-time government or BNP’s move. Maybe the situation will change by this time,” he said.
Communist party leaders alleged that Awami League and BNP have introduced business persons and black money into politics which is destroying the political environment.
“It is not possible to hold a free, fair, and participatory election under any political government. We have to keep an eye on what is happening in the coming days. Now black money, muscle power, and fundamental forces have grabbed politics. Politicians who have no money were forced to leave politics,” said Communist Party of Bangladesh President, Mujahidul Islam Selim.
He also said: “We are still undecided about participating in the elections. If the situation does not improve and we fail to create a situation for ideal politicians, then CPB will not participate in the election.”
Saiful Haque, general secretary of Biplobi Workers Party of Bangladesh, said: “We have already proposed to the Election Commission about the forming of a non-partisan poll-time government.
“As a party we have already started to distribute seats but are yet to complete the process. We hope to finish the task in April and after that we will sit with the Democratic Left Alliance and Jukto Morcha.”
He also said: “If the Awami League tries another election like on January 5, 2014, then we will again boycott the election.”
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/2018/04/20/left-parties-dilemma-contesting-national-polls/
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