[🇧🇩] Forming Election Commission/Conducting Elections

[Saif]

US role during 1/11: Prioritising polls over reforms was a ‘great mistake’

Washington made a “great mistake” during Bangladesh’s 2007-08 political crisis by prioritising election timelines over public aspirations and fundamental reforms, said former US diplomat Jon Danilowicz yesterday.

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US role during 1/11: Prioritising polls over reforms was a ‘great mistake’
Says former diplomat

Jon Danilowicz

Washington made a "great mistake" during Bangladesh's 2007-08 political crisis by prioritising election timelines over public aspirations and fundamental reforms, said former US diplomat Jon Danilowicz yesterday.

Speaking at a discussion on "Navigating the Dynamics of Bangladesh-US Relations After the Mass Uprising," organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the BIISS Auditorium yesterday, he said the current interim government has taken a more effective approach by fostering national consensus on reform.

Danilowicz, who served as political and economic counsellor at the US embassy in Dhaka from 2007 to 2011, witnessed the military-backed caretaker government's tenure following mass protests against the BNP-Jamaat alliance.

He said the US and other stakeholders focused too heavily on the army's position rather than the demands of the Bangladeshi people.

"I am the first to acknowledge that the United States made great mistakes in the 2007-08 period," he said. "We put too much emphasis on elections and their timeline instead of ensuring lasting political reforms."

The caretaker government had initially pushed for reforms, but once it prioritised holding elections and stepping down, it lost leverage with political parties, he explained. Agreements between the caretaker government and political leaders were made in secret, leaving uncertainty about commitments from figures such as Sheikh Hasina.

"Our perception was that the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina had learned lessons and were committed to reforms," he said. "As history turned out, we were wrong. That miscalculation contributed to the gradual decline, culminating in the summer of 2024."

Danilowicz believes the current interim government, led by Chief Adviser Prof Yunus, has learned from past mistakes and is now pursuing genuine reforms. The US supports this agenda while refraining from setting an arbitrary election date.

Asked about Awami League's participation in the next election, he said, "That decision rests solely with the people of Bangladesh."

On accountability, he stressed that elections alone do not ensure it. "The International Crimes Tribunal process and legal mechanisms are also critical in holding individuals accountable."

Former US ambassador William B Milam also spoke at the event, moderated by CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman.

Milam reaffirmed Washington's commitment to democracy and human rights in Bangladesh, regardless of which party holds power.

He said that while Donald Trump's foreign policy may have had some deviations, the US generally supports democracies, not autocrats.

Milam said his organisation has been working for five years to raise awareness among the American public about Bangladesh's democratic trajectory and secure funding to continue this effort.

Danilowicz highlighted the lack of accountability among Bangladesh's ruling parties as a major political challenge and warned that the country is facing an "information warfare" threat, much of it originating from India.

He urged Washington to engage with Bangladesh independently rather than viewing it solely through the lens of India.​

 

[Saif]

What’s ahead? How far is the national election?

It suddenly seems like something new is about to happen in the country’s political arena. Chief advisor professor Muhammad Yunus has been saying for some time that the national parliamentary elections will be held by December. The chief advisor initially mentioned this outside the country. Since...

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What’s ahead? How far is the national election?
Mahmudur Rahman Manna
Updated: 12 Mar 2025, 08: 45

Election Commission logo

It suddenly seems that something new is going to happen in the country’s political situation. Chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus has been saying for some time that the national parliamentary elections will be held by December. The chief adviser initially mentioned this outside the country. Since then, he has been consistently stating this. Almost everyone, including the country's political parties, believed this. Discussions about this had started in villages and even around tea tables. But suddenly, he said the election would be held between December and March.

At that time, environment, forest, and climate change adviser Rizwana Hasan first said that the election would take place between December and June. Shortly after, the new leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Nahid Islam, said that the election environment had not yet been created in the country. Describing the state of the administration and police, he mentioned that the police were not yet in a condition to hold elections.

During an interview with former US ambassador and president of the US-based human rights organisation Right to Freedom, William B Milam, and former American diplomat, John F Danilowicz, chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus said that there would be discussions with political parties regarding the proposals made by six commissions about reforms.

After the dialogue, the political parties would sign the July Charter. The interim government would implement some of the recommendations from this charter, while the remaining parts would be implemented by the next political government.

Professor Yunus also said that if the political parties agree to fewer reforms before the election, the election could take place in December. Otherwise, the national election would be held by June of the following year.

Doesn't this sound a bit unclear? The July Charter and reforms are certainly not the same thing. But the way the chief adviser is speaking, it seems that if there is national consensus on the July Charter, then later there will be a consensus on reforms. This needs further discussion.

Readers must remember the July Charter or July Proclamation. At that time, it was referred to as a proclamation. The students were very serious about this issue. They were particularly upset that there was no proclamation about the July uprising. Because of this, they blamed the government. In response, the government had said that a proclamation could not be made alone and required consensus, and that it would start discussions with political parties to build that consensus.

The July Charter or Proclamation doesn't just refer to the July Uprising; it’s part of history. Therefore, it has a past, a present, and future directions. Those who were part of the movement say it represents continuity, and this continuity can be traced back from the 1952 language movement up to today. Many, even in the context of India's partition, find the direction for Bangladesh’s history in today's situation. To be more specific, the Proclamation is something that explains the period of turmoil and inspires hope for future building. It is an analysis that instills hope, not a framework for state reform.

At the end of December, student movement coordinators had pressured for a proclamation. They even prepared a draft charter and sent it to political parties and various stakeholders. Readers must recall that at that time, various stakeholders did not show much interest in the students' initiative. It wasn’t because they neglected the students; it was a matter of how they chose to engage with the issue. Since this is a major political question, it needed to be viewed in the broader context of overall politics. Some might agree with the proposed charter, some might agree partially, and others might not agree with the overall concept at all.

State reforms are not synonymous with the charter. Reforms, especially in today’s context, refer to qualitative changes in the constitution and election procedures. This is not the July Uprising’s charter in any sense. The government formed six commissions, which have submitted their reports. These six commissions have created six spreadsheets, where stakeholders can suggest yes/no responses or propose minor changes. There is a scope of ticking or making proposals. The process of these two is different.

Are these two seen as the same? There’s no chance of that. Moreover, if the parties agree to minor reforms, the election could be in December, but if not, it could be postponed until March or June. Doesn’t this statement create confusion about reforms? Is the issue about fewer or more reforms really like this?

Seven months later, the entire nation, based on real experience, now understands the necessary reforms for a good and acceptable election. For example, Nahid Islam, the newly formed political party’s leader, believes that the country’s police force is not at all prepared to conduct a good election. I agree with this. The question is, couldn’t the police have been brought up to that level in the past seven months? Isn’t it possible to do that within these seven months?

The same can be said about the public administration and the election commission. What does reform mean in these contexts? Reform certainly implies a complete overhaul. On the other hand, police could work in a somewhat proactive way, instead of being fully proactive. It seems that those in power right now are not able to think about getting the necessary work done in this manner. That’s why, even after a month of taking office as chief adviser, whatever reforms (?) have been made are being mentioned, but just the other day, he said that reforms hadn’t even started yet.

Has the country paused a bit due to the sudden talk of delaying the election? I think so. After the student-people's struggle against Sheikh Hasina’s heartless fascist rule, which led to victory, the people of this country, even political parties, have respect and sympathy for the students. People are observing the political party formed by the students with great attention, and that’s only normal.

Political parties, of course, will view this new political party as competition. They are carefully analysing the behaviour and statements of this newly formed party from the very beginning, and will continue to do so. It is no secret that chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus has special feelings for this party and its organisers. They believe that the chief adviser listens especially to them, and they also think the government might provide them with political advantages.

For example, they might need more time to form their party, which could be a reason for the government to delay the election agenda. This might explain why the election has shifted from December to June. If necessary, it could be delayed even further.

The politics of the coming days, therefore, demand deeper observation.

* Mahmudur Rahman Manna is the president of Nagorik Oikya

** This column appeared in the print edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten for the English edition by Rabiul Islam​

 

[Saif]

Want CA to announce roadmap for nat'l election: Salahuddin

The BNP leader went on to say, '....while we may not all agree on some proposals, we believe that the majority of the proposals will gain consensus among most of the people of Bangladesh.'

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Want CA to announce roadmap for nat'l election: Salahuddin

File photo

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed wants the chief adviser to announce a clear roadmap for the parliamentary election in line with public demand.

"The aspiration of the July uprising was to establish a democratic state by freeing the country from autocracy. Discussions on reforms and dialogues will continue, but we need to make a decision regarding the national elections. For that, we need a roadmap," Salahuddin said at an iftar event organised by Gono Odhikar Parishad today.

Addressing the ongoing debate on whether the local or national election should be held first, Salahuddin said, "We have presented our proposals and opinions to the government, the chief adviser, and the people."

He said that reaching consensus on reform proposals and their implementation involve short, mid, and long-term phases; preparations for the national elections must go ahead.

"The Election Commission, responsible for conducting the national polls, is nearly ready. Based on their statements, they are working towards holding the election in December."

The BNP leader went on to say, "....while we may not all agree on some proposals, we believe that the majority of the proposals will gain consensus among most of the people of Bangladesh."

"We have received both hard and soft copies of the reform commissions' proposals. We have analysed them and will soon submit our report to the National Consensus Commission, following which discussions will continue," he added.​

 

[Saif]

Election likely in December if reforms package is short, or by June for larger package

Visiting United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed his full support for the reform process initiated by Bangladesh's Interim Government and voiced concern for declining humanitarian aid for more than a million Rohingya refugees living in the country's southeast.

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Guterres-Yunus meeting

Election likely in December if reforms package is short, or by June for larger package
BSS
Dhaka
Updated: 14 Mar 2025, 20: 50

Visiting United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed his full support for the reform process initiated by Bangladesh's Interim Government and voiced concern for declining humanitarian aid for more than a million Rohingya refugees living in the country's southeast.

The UN Secretary General, who arrived here on a four- day visit on Thursday, reaffirmed the UN's commitment for Bangladesh's reform agenda and voiced his concern for "one of the most discriminated peoples" in the world during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office in the capital.

"I want to express our total commitment to the reform process. We are here to support your reforms. We wish you all the best. Whatever we can do, let us know," the UN Secretary General told Professor Yunus during his hour-long meeting.

He hoped the reforms would lead to a free and fair election and a "real transformation" of the country. "I know the process of reforms can be complex," he said.

Guterres said he was also here to express solidarity with Myanmar's forcibly displaced Rohingya people during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"I've never seen a population so discriminated against. The international community is forgetting the Rohingya," the UN Secretary General said as he voiced his deep concern over declining humanitarian aid for the 1.2 million Rohingya refugees who live in camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.

"(Aid) cuts are a crime," he said, adding that Western nations were now doubling up on defense spending while humanitarian aid is squeezed across the globe.

Guterres also expressed the UN's "enormous gratitude" to Bangladesh for hosting the Rohingya refugees. "Bangladesh has been extremely generous to the Rohingya people."

"Rohingyas are a special case for me," he added.

Professor Yunus thanked the UN Secretary General for visiting the country at such a crucial time.

"You couldn't come at a better time. Your visit is timely not only for the Rohingya people but also for Bangladesh," he said.

The Chief Adviser briefed Guterres about the reform process, saying about 10 political parties have already submitted their responses to the reports of the six reform commissions constituted by the interim government.

Professor Yunus said once the parties agreed to the recommendations of the six commissions, they would sign a July Charter, which would be the blueprint for country's democratic transition and implementation of the political, judicial, electoral, administrative, anti-corruption and police reforms.

He said election could be held in December provided the political parties agreed to "a short package" of reforms, but it will be held by June next year if the parties settled for "a larger package" of reforms.

The Chief Adviser reaffirmed his commitment to holding "free, fair and participatory elections."

Prof Yunus sought the support of the UN Secretary General for the dignified return of the Rohingyas to their homeland in the western Rakhine state in Myanmar and in the meantime mobilising adequate food and humanitarian assistance for the 1.2 million refugees.

"We are trying to raise attention of the plight of the Rohingya people. The world should know how they are suffering. There is a feeling frustration," he said.

The UN Secretary General said he would do his best to resolve the Rohingya crisis and would try to mobilize support for them, giving priority to the Rohingyas.

Guterres lauded the contribution of the Bangladesh peacekeeping forces in maintaining peace and stability in some of the troubled corners of the world.

"Bangladesh peace keeping forces are very important for us," the UN Secretary General said, adding their engagements have been "extraordinary", and "added that Bangladesh acts in the frontline for a fairer world."

Professor Yunus also praised the Bangladesh peace keepers, saying Bangladesh military gets unique exposure in these assignments. "The deployments mean a lot to us," he said.

Geopolitics and the status of SAARC and Bangladesh's relationships with neighbours were also featured in the talks, with Professor Yunus highlighting his efforts to revive the South Asian regional forum.

He said Bangladesh also wants to become a member of the ASEAN in an effort to boost trade and investment with the Southeast Asian nations.

The Chief Adviser also highlighted his proposal to create a South Asia grid involving Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and India to tap and import huge hydropower from the Himalayan nations.

He said Bangladesh was building a series of ports in the country's Chittagong region in a bid to transform the country into "an economic hub", connecting Bangladesh with the landlocked countries of Nepal and Bhutan and India's Northeastern region.

Prof Yunus said the interim government has been fully supported by almost every country in the world, including the United States, European Union, China and Japan.

About the state of the economy, the Chief Adviser said his government has inherited a ruined economy with a broken banking sector, dwindling reserves and destroyed institutions.

"The economy has now been solidified. Exports have been growing for months. Foreign exchange reserves are also better," he said.

Prof Yunus said Bangladesh economy has made a turnaround to an extent that the interim government has now decided the country would make graduation from LDC nation next year (2026).

"We are taking full preparations for LDC graduation," he said.

The Chief Adviser also outlined his government's efforts to bring back tens of billions of dollars stolen by the leadership and cronies of the previous government. Some $234 billion dollars have been siphoned off during the 16-year-long dictatorship, he said.

"We are trying to get back the money. But this is a complex and lengthy process," he added.

The Secretary General said that it all reminded him of his time during the revolutionary days in 1974 in Portugal.

Prof Yunus also thanked the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk for the work of the UN fact-finding mission, which documented atrocities and potential crimes against humanity committed by the Sheikh Hasina government.

"He did a fantastic work. They documented the crimes just right after the atrocities were committed. Let them come back again and do more work," he said.

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, High Representative of the Chief Adviser, Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were present during the meeting.

UN Under Secretary General Rabab Fatima and UN Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis also attended the meeting.​

 

[Saif]

Election should be held after finishing reforms quickly, BNP tells Guterres

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told this to the journalists after a meeting with the UN secretary general

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Election should be held after finishing reforms quickly, BNP tells Guterres
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 15 Mar 2025, 22: 13

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir speaks to journalists after a meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Dhaka on 15 March 2025.Suvra Kanti Das

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) informed the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres that the party was the first to speak about reforms.

BNP also told the UN chief that the national election should be held after carrying out electoral reforms as soon as possible.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told this to the journalists after a meeting with the UN secretary general at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on Saturday.

Replying to queries on the conversation with the UN chief, the BNP secretary general said, “A roundtable was organised by the UN where chiefs of the reform commissions were present. At the event, the UN chief was mainly informed about the ongoing discussions on reforms.”

Mirza Fakhrul Islam said, “We have informed the UN chief about the issues that we have been saying this long. Reform must happen. We have talked about reform previously and that reform must be carried out as soon as possible. We have said that electoral reforms should be completed speedily and then elections should be held quickly. After that, the remaining issues can be completed by parliament. Reform is a continuous process. We have spoken about these issues.”

Replying to a query on the UN chief’s response to the BNP’s issues, Mirza Fakhrul said António Guterres made no comment.

Replying to another query whether there was any discussion on timeframe for election, Mirza Fakhrul said, “We have talked to the reform commission and we are in touch with them. We gave everything that they wanted. We are already holding a meeting with them. So, why would we give a timeframe to the UN chief?”

BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed also joined the meeting.

Replying to a question on election, Salahuddin Ahmed said, “The UN said it is an internal issue of Bangladesh and you sit together and fix what reforms you will carry out. The UN chief expected a strong democratic government would be in power in Bangladesh, and the next election will set a precedent in the world.”​