The long-running stalemate over holding the national election and the referendum may finally end within a week, with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus deciding on conducting both polls on the same day and all the parties accepting that.
Yunus’s interim government has been making progress in persuading all major political parties to reach a consensus on the proposed proportional representation (PR) system in the upper house, surrounding which they quarrel.
Sending a positive signal, National Citizen Party (NCP) has already agreed to synchronise the two votes. With this, Jamaat-e-Islami remains the only party still opposing the plan, insisting that the referendum must take place before the parliamentary election. However, insiders in both Jamaat and the interim government told TIMES of Bangladesh that the Islamist party is likely to soften its position in the coming days.
Sources, however, said Jamaat’s flexibility would depend on whether the BNP agrees to compromise on the PR system in the proposed upper house — another sticking point in the political dialogue. Jamaat seeks representation based on the ratio of votes received, while the BNP maintains that it should be determined by the number of parliamentary seats won.
Like Jamaat, the NCP has also urged the BNP to review its stance on the PR issue, after the NCP itself reversed its position on the referendum.
Talking to TIMES on Sunday, a close aide of Muhammad Yunus said, the parties would make noise as a political strategy, but they are also in a position of compromise for the sake of the national election.
He said chief adviser is likely to make the final announcement on election date after meeting of the Council of Advisers on Thursday.
“He is convinced that holding both votes on the same day will be convenient. Most members of the National Consensus Committee (NCC) and the Council of Advisers agree on that. They believe holding the elections separately would be logistically difficult and financially burdensome,” said the source, requesting anonymity.
The PR issue is expected to be resolved through a similar compromise. “The government is continuing discussions with the parties,” another source in the said, adding that law adviser Asif Nazrul has been making efforts to persuade BNP to show flexibility, as other parties have already done.
On Sunday, the NCP softened its stance, saying it would have no objection if both polls were held simultaneously, a sign of compromise.
“The NCP prioritises holding the referendum before the election, but it could also take place on the same day depending on the government’s readiness,” NCP Convener Nahid Islam told reporters at the party’s central office.
Some political observers believe Jamaat’s continued opposition to a same-day vote is largely a political tactic designed to “keep its main rival, the BNP, under pressure” and to gain leverage in negotiations with the government.
“Jamaat will eventually agree to both votes being held on the same day, but for now it will maintain public opposition,” said a Jamaat leader, requesting anonymity. “We will agree — but we expect the BNP to also adjust its stance on the PR issue.”
Jamaat leaders confirmed that the government has been in direct contact with their senior leadership, while similar efforts are under way with the BNP. “If the BNP compromises on the PR formula, Jamaat will also show flexibility on the referendum-election schedule. The party does not want uncertainty over the vote due to its strained ties with the BNP,” one leader explained.
A member of Jamaat’s central working committee told TIMES that a settlement is inevitable. “The BNP will make concessions, and Jamaat will do the same and move towards the election,” he said, adding that the party will not take any step that could disrupt the polls or benefit what he termed “the fallen autocrat”.
Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Jamaat’s assistant secretary and head of its media wing said that discussions between the government and Jamaat are continuing in pursuit of a “constructive and peaceful solution”.
