After a lot of drama and melodrama in the last one year; after many episodes of threats and counter-threats and after a lot of battle-cries, finally we have come to the last leg of the perilous journey where the glimmer of the headlight of the election train can be seen in the distance. Also, keen ears can pick up the faint whistle of the approaching locomotive just around the bend of the distant hills. Will the train be able to reach the station without any mishap? Yes, that is the question now in the lips of all and sundry at the moment.
No one would deny that the common concern at the moment is the deteriorating law and order situation all over the country, which poses the toughest test for the Election Commission in holding the much awaited parliamentary election in February 2026. Many loose ends are still trailing behind that need to be gathered together and tied in a knot so that those cannot create any nuisance later on. What citizens are mostly worried about is the visible free flow of arms in society and their rampant use in clashes between various political and criminal groups every other day. The recent murder of the young political leader named Sharif Osman Hadi by a rival gang member, using a small gun from a running motorcycle, still haunts the citizens. A large section of the young generation are demanding proper trial of his killers and threatening to disrupt elections if their demand is not met before the election date. Meanwhile the killing spree goes on. Very recently, the shooting down of a Jubadal leader dampened the spirit of the people who were under the impression that all was well in the political front.
It needs no emphasizing that having numerous arms in the hands of the gang members is making policing a tough job for the law enforcers all over the country. Citizens have been imploring the government to arrest these criminals and put them in the dock before the election deadline. Subsequently, some weeks back, a high level meeting was held with the field level administration and the EC, with the participation of DCs and SPs, on handling the law and order situation before and during the upcoming 13th general election and on the referendum. In the meeting, some serious issues came up for discussion that will have to be addressed with utmost urgency. Particularly, views were exchanged regarding the issue of abundant supply of illegal arms and black money in the hands of criminal gangs and the rising number of criminal gangs of various size and strength. The administration also will have to address the abundant release of baseless reports through various media outlets and the issue of digital disinformation; intra-party rivalries that often turn extremely violent, and the sensitive question of security of the vulnerable minorities.
It was discussed that the law-and-order situation has emerged as a multidimensional challenge before the upcoming election, which needs to be brought under control well before the election deadline.
We believe the stakeholders have correctly perceived the gravity of the prevailing situation and taken the decision to go for a tough stance and launch coordinated action in order to make it safe for the citizens to go to the polling stations and cast their votes. We remember that the Chief Advisor of the interim government Muhammad Yunus had announced that the government was determined to present one of the memorable elections in February. It puts the administration and the Election Commission in a tight corner because the administration will remain answerable to him if they fail in their responsibility.
Let us have a look at the illegal weapons in the hands of hardened criminals. The looted arms and ammunition from various police stations is considered a ticking time-bomb by many observers. According to a police database, 5,763 firearms from 460 police stations/outposts and 651,832 rounds of ammo had been looted by 5 August 2024. Out of them, 4,390 firearms (76%) and 394,112 rounds of ammo (60%) have been recovered so far. Still missing are 1,363 firearms and 257,720 rounds of ammo. There is a fear that if these are not recovered before the election in February, these will be used during the election.
While we are with the administration, we also support them when they stress that political interference must stop in their work after they arrest some criminals. They said in one voice that when suspected criminals are arrested, pressure comes on them from different political groups for their release. It has been alleged that politicians talk about improving law and order but lobby at night to have detainees freed.
The Election Commissioner has rightly observed that illegal weapons, narcotics, cross-border militants, Rohingya issues and juvenile gangs are the main threats to a credible election and action must be taken against them. Therefore, the bottom line is, the first priority at the moment should be recovery of illegal weapons and sealing the borders to restrict inflow of arms and ammunition.
Apparently, a lot of negative forces are still converging to jeopardize smooth holding of the next parliamentary election in the country. Once again dark clouds seem to be gathering over the nation to make the journey towards holding a free and fair election in February 2026 difficult.
Some days back Jamaat-e-Islami supremo remarked that it would be impossible to organize a free and fair election in the present conditions that prevail in the country. He might have hinted at the spate of mob violence in the country, which resulted in the deaths of some individuals and undoubtedly, such violence where masses of the people take law in their own hands is deplorable and by all means unacceptable. He warned that his party would not allow any administrative coup in the election. Possibly he meant undue interference by the administration during the election. We believe the Election Commission will take his comments with due seriousness and take preparations accordingly so that the election can be as free and fair as possible.
It appears that the majority of the political parties are in favour of holding the election in February 2026, so that there can be a smooth transition from the interim government to a democratically elected government soon after. The common perception in the country is that the elected government will give full support to the lawful process of reforms and trials as demanded by the people.
It therefore will be advisable not to make the coveted journey towards democracy more difficult at this stage. Let us have the election on time!
The writer is Consultant Editor, Daily Times of Bangladesh
