Election Season is Upon Us

In the last three days, several important events have taken place in Bangladesh's political arena.

1. The Election Commission has provided a clear plan regarding the possible date for announcing the election schedule.
2. The formal announcement has been made of the electoral alliance between the National Citizens' Party (NCP), the State Reform Movement, and the AB Party.
3. BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman, in his recent statement, has made pointed political statements targeting Jamaat-e Islami, which means the BNP is considering Jamaat as the main opposition in the upcoming election. 
4. AB Party's Barrister Fuad was insulted during an election campaign in Barisal, and this has sparked extensive online discussions and criticisms on both sides.
5. The Chief Adviser's press secretary has stated that the Jatiya Party will participate in the upcoming election. However, no decision has yet been made regarding whether the Awami League will participate.
6. The Election Commission has announced that no one from private banks will be recruited for election duties. This indicates that the EC and the government are sincere about keeping the election unquestionable. It is noteworthy that recently, allegations had surfaced that officials and employees of a specific private bank were being or would be used by a particular political party for election work.
7. On election day, banks and post offices will remain open as per the EC's requirements. This means that even if not for central duties, the Election Commission is serious about keeping banking and postal services available on election day for supporting election-related activities.

Overall, the activities of the last few days are dissipating the election-centric uncertainty. It is also clear from the behavior and actions of the political parties that they are taking the upcoming election seriously. 

Each party will make the utmost effort to earn the people's mandate according to its capacity. This is the biggest positive signal.

When all political parties strive for the people's mandate instead of trying to advance their own agendas, they inherently keep each other in check, which is beneficial for the public.

However, there are many concerns and tensions surrounding the election.

We do not know what percentage of the weapons looted from law enforcement agencies during the mass uprising of 2024 have been recovered so far. There is a high possibility that these unrecovered weapons will be used during the election. Given the heightened political rivalry this time, the apprehension of election-related violence is much greater.

On top of that, among the unforgivable failures of this government, one of the top ones will be doing nothing for the reform of the civil bureaucracy and law enforcement agencies.

As a result, the civil bureaucracy, which should have been used as one of the most important accompaniments for an acceptable, free, and participatory election, has not been prepared for such a historic election.

Therefore, it is natural that the damage inflicted on the structure and culture of the civil bureaucracy and law enforcement agencies over the past decade will linger in the election arrangements.

Although members of the civil bureaucracy and law enforcement agencies are sincere about keeping the election unquestionable -- because they have already seen that after the looting, the political factions will flee as they please, but they themselves will remain in the service structure -- so, with their sincere efforts and commitment, they can at least somewhat cover the fragility of the service's structure and culture in the election arrangements.

I hope for that, at least.

Therefore, the biggest challenge now will be ensuring voter turnout on election day. Due to the destruction of the country's electoral culture under Hasina's hands, voters have become averse to elections.

On top of that, since the July uprising, the reckless and people-harming behavior of the political factions has led citizens to not see themselves as part of the political process.

As a result, there is still low interest among citizens regarding the upcoming election. That is the biggest cause for concern.

For that reason, from the position of a citizen, I will spend the next two months writing about the necessary information, actions, and challenges for citizens in the election.

I hope that during this period, nothing favoring or opposing any political party will be found in this profile. Because encouraging voters to cast their votes in the election, providing them with necessary information within my limitations, and ensuring that the election environment becomes festive for citizens -- these are what I consider the duties of a non-partisan citizen. 

For this reason, I also see it as my responsibility to refrain from expressing opinions that could influence anyone's voting decision.

I grew up in the 1990s, and to my civic self, elections were a very important accompaniment.

I witnessed the atmosphere of my first election in 1991. From that time until 2008, elections were synonymous with festivals. As a citizen, my aspiration is to bring back that festival.

The thought that the country will be fixed overnight was never truly there, nor is it today. That's why I want the festival to return.

In the midst of crises, one needs festivals in life to see the light of possibility.

So, let the nation immerse itself in joy through this election. Citizens' participation alone can save this election from becoming questionable. Let us immerse ourselves in the festival of voting according to our choice.