If the next elections in Bangladesh are held without the Awami League as a major political party, serious questions could arise about the transparency and legitimacy of the elections.
The main purpose of elections is to form the basis of democratic governance, give the country’s citizens the opportunity to choose their representatives, and hold the elected government accountable to the voters.
However, if the Awami League, an important part of the country’s politics, is deprived or banned from participating in the elections, serious concerns could arise about the legitimacy and transparency of the elections.
The interim government has banned the activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009, and the Election Commission has cancelled the party’s registration until the trials at the International Crimes Tribunal are completed. In addition, changes have been made to the law and election rules so that the party’s leaders and workers cannot even participate as independent candidates.
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Hundreds of cases have been filed against hundreds of Awami League workers and supporters in connection with the violence of July-August 2024. Thousands of people have been in jail without bail for several months. Hundreds of people have also been arrested for expressing support for the party on social media or for holding rallies.
Those concerned believe that various problems could arise if elections are held in this situation. If elections are held without the Awami League, the options for voters will be limited. Those who support the ideology of the Awami League are being deprived of proper representation. An analysis of the data from the last few elections shows that the Awami League and its allies have the support of about 35โ40% of the votes in Bangladesh.
If the elections are held without the Awami League, political competition will be reduced. As a result of the banning of the Awami League, the government’s allied political parties (NCP, BNP, Jamaat) are getting an unfair advantage. The recent DUCSU elections clearly demonstrated this inequality.
If the Awami League’s participation is hindered, the government will be seen as undemocratic and authoritarian, which undermines confidence in the elections. In addition, if the elections are held without the main political parties, the election results and the legitimacy of the government will be questioned. This is likely to lead to boycotts, protests or civil unrest in the future.
It is worth noting that the Awami League has been forcibly excluded from the election process. In this situation, international observers, other governments and human rights organisations are likely to view the elections as unfair or inconsistent, which could also affect diplomatic and economic relations.
Analysts believe that if Bangladesh’s democratic system is to be normalised, the next national election must be truly free, transparent, participatory, and legitimate. For this, every political party must be given full opportunity to campaign fearlessly, shape public opinion, and participate in the election.
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