The killing of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi and the subsequent unrest across the country have raised concerns among politicians and analysts regarding the 12 February parliamentary polls.
However, they remain confident that the election will ultimately be held according to the schedule, dispelling concerns raised following recent violent incidents, with many suggesting conspiratorial forces at play to destabilise the nation and obstruct Bangladesh’s democratic transition.
They remain steadfast in their belief that, as long as the forces which supported the July Uprising remain united against attempts to sabotage the election, these attempts by fallen fascists and local and foreign conspirators will inevitably falter and fail.
Analysts believe that the pro-uprising parties, now alert regarding the forces at play wreak havoc on the country’s stability and prevent the election, are revaluating the situation and further strengthening their unity amongst themselves.
At the same time, they are holding the interim government accountable, demanding that the government take strict measures to bring the law-and-order situation under control.
Former head of the Department of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University and political analyst Professor Dilara Choudhury told TIMES of Bangladesh, “There have been various attempts by the fallen Awami League and both local and foreign forces to sabotage the election from the start. The killing of Osman Hadi is a part of that same conspiracy. What this this incident definitely proves, though, is the failure of the government and the law enforcement agencies.”
She added, “Questions have now been raised about whether the government has the capacity to hold elections in 300 constituencies across the country on a single day. With the situation as it is now, there is a serious risk of that many lives will be lost if elections are held. Even after the announcement of the election schedule, an electoral environment has failed to materialise.”
“Only if the government is strict in maintaining law and order and politicians remain vigilant against these forces, can an election be held fairly,” she said.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, founder-secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN), told TIMES, “The shooting of Osman Hadi can be send a lot of messages, but one of the main ones is that there is an attempt to sabotage the election. But, while there may be challenges, I have no doubt that the elections will be held as planned.”
Most politicians believe that the ousted Awami League is behind the shooting incident on 12 December that eventually led to Inqilab Mancha Spokesperson and prospective independent candidate for Dhaka-8 Osman Hadi’s untimely death. Hadi had been conducting an election campaign in the capital at the time.
Their reasoning lies in the identity of the shooter, Faisal Karim, who is a former Chhatra League leader, the student-wing of the former Awami League government. This makes two things clear to the parties: One, Awami League wants to sabotage the election by orchestrating various incidents, including killings. The other is to intimidate the leaders of the July Uprising which brought about their downfall.
On Friday afternoon, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said at the party Chairperson’s Gulshan office, “There is a major conspiracy behind the killing of Osman Hadi. Local and foreign conspirators may be involved along with the accomplices of the fascists to delay the election centring Hadi’s killing. However, democracy and the path to elections cannot be obstructed by either chaos or conspiracy.”
Currently, the political parties and July Warriors are exercising caution, believing that the attacks on newspaper offices and cultural organisations that occurred on Thursday following the news of Osman Hadi’s death could also have the instigation of a specific group.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General and head of the media department, Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, told TIMES on Thursday, “It is clear to us that various local and foreign groups are conspiring to destabilise the country centring on the election. Therefore, I have called upon everyone to exercise caution and to not be provoked into harming the election. We will hold the election by confronting all conspiracies.”
Arifur Rahman Tuhin, joint chief coordinator of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), said that after the attempt on Hadi’s life, the forces on the side of the July Uprising are reunifying as it has become clear to everyone that this the Awami League and its hegemonic allies are behind these incidents.
He told TIMES, “The attack on newspaper offices was highly planned. A neighbouring country’s instigation is behind these incidents, along with domestic forces. They do not want anyone to vote here, unless it is for the Awami League.”
Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan told TIMES, “The attempt to sabotage the election will fail. Because, when a conspiracy is exposed or leaked, it can no longer be implemented,” urging the government to take strong measures to improve the law-and-order situation.
Multiple sources say that political parties consider the next few days extremely crucial for the future of the nation’s politics as a whole. Senior leaders have warned party leaders and activists not to fall for any provocation and to remain cautious in the overall situation during this time.
Meanwhile, after Osman Hadi was shot, parliamentary candidates across the country have increased security measures on the election field, cautiously moving forward with their respective campaigns.
