Simple question to two Begums

After two years of postponement of the much anticipated general election in Bangladesh, military controlled interim government is finally set to hold the election on December 29, which is just few hundred hours away from now. According to media reports, leaders of Bangladesh's largest political parties, Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party are busy in electoral campaign. Partners of Grand Alliance and Four Party Alliance, Jatiyo Party [led by former military dictator General Hussain Muhammed Ershad] and Bangladesh Jamaat E Islami [led by anti liberation forces] are also seeing high optimism in getting significant number of seats in the election. Bangladeshi media are showing a landslide victory of the Grand Alliance led by Bangladesh Awami League during the next general election, as it claims that voters this time will vote against corruption, terrorism and Islamists. Grand Alliance leader Sheikh Hasina is repeatedly claiming that her party is above any corruption, terrorism and patronizing radical Islam.

As a journalist I would be extremely happy if Sheikh Hasina's statements were not just mere political stunt but reality. It is important to mention here that, during the rule of Awami League [1996-2001], people of Bangladesh turned furious at the naked actions of a number of notorious culprits and terror kingpins like Joinal Hazari, Abul Hasnat Abdullah, Dipu Chowdhury, Shamim Osman, Haji Selim, Haji Mockbull etc. Bangladesh Awami League signed a treaty with Khelafat Majlish for establishment of Shariah Law if they become victorious in the election in Bangladesh. According to latest facts, Sheikh Hasina has categorically declared that her party won't support any anti Shariah law in Bangladesh. In this case, no one can guarantee that, Awami League led coalition will not lead Bangladesh to the fate of a Taliban state if they win the next general election.

Coalition partner of Grand Alliance, Jatiyo Party leader Hussain Muhammed Ershad is known [he was even convicted in a number of cases] as a corrupt man. He has clear inclination towards Islamists. Moreover, Ershad's party houses several notorious criminals.

On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party is the prominent patron of Islamist terror as well most of the leaders of the party are directly or indirectly involved in various forms of corruption.

Coalition partner of 4-Part Alliance, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is a party opposing war of independence. They also openly support radical Islam.

But, the unfortunate fate is, people of Bangladesh have no option but to vote any of the existing parties, while they have no option to choose bad from the worst. Voters will have to elect the worst from the bunch of worst. And, surely, this is the most unfortunate part of the road to democracy for Bangladesh.

During this year's election, almost all the political parties are falling at the same line on a very particular issue of patronizing radical Islam. Each of them is either supporting formation of Shariah Law or is committed to oppose any anti-Shariah law in the country. Keeping this in mind, anyone may question if the parties are rather forced to step into the road of popular choice. If the question is yes, then surely someone may conclude thinking most of the Bangladeshis are willing to turn the country into another Taliban type state in future. In this case, how Bangladesh can anymore claim to be a moderate Muslim nation?

The good news is Bangladeshis in general are not in favor of Shariah Law at all. Otherwise, they would have voted for ultra Islamist parties like Khelafat Majlish or Islamic Constitution Movement etc. Bangladeshis by nature are extremely moderate and hold the ideology of religious tolerance. They have no dream to see their leaders to behave like Ayatullah Khomeini or Ossama Bin Laden. They want to be rather proud to be the most moderate Muslim nation in the world. In this case, surely, the major political parties are not speaking the mind of the people of this country.

This time, voters will have the option of casting 'NO' vote if they cannot feel comfortable with any of the candidates nominated by the political parties or those independent candidates. But, for obvious reason, percentage of 'NO' votes will not be exceeding the number of votes stamped on the electoral symbols. But, of course, whatever may be the number or percentage of 'NO' votes, this time, voters in Bangladesh will at least exhibit their negative tendency towards the political parties for a number of reasons.

Anyway, the election on December 29 is gradually becoming a 'mission possible'. Bangladesh will shift from military controlled autocracy to democratic track from the New Year. In this case, the most important question now should come in front of the entire nation – if either of the political heavyweights, especially the two Begums will be ready to accept the election result. We have past track record of unfortunate stories. None of the politicians in Bangladesh are ready to accept their defeat in the election. This time too, both the Begums are not willing to accept defeat in the election. This is surely a very dangerous tendency. No election in the world can make everyone winner. Someone has to accept the defeat. In Western world especially [even during the recent past Presidential election in United States], candidates battle for victory till the election result is made public. Once they know the result, they surely accept it and even the losers become active in extending hands of cooperation towards the winning side, while the winners become extremely sober towards the losing part.

In all the elections in Bangladesh, winning parties continued to celebrate their victory for weeks, while only in 2001, there was an exception, when the leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party decided not to bring out any victory rally in the country. Wish she could even gone to Gono Bhaban [state owned official residence of the Prime Minister, which was illegally grabbed by Bangladesh Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina] to seek cooperation from her in running the country. Everyone knows that both the Begums are suffering from ego problem. They are not ready to show minimum level of respect towards their political opponents, which is again the very unfortunate part of Bangladesh's democracy.

This time too, people of Bangladesh and the world will witness series of demonstrations, lawlessness and rejection of electoral result by the losing side. In the name of democratic right, politicians will make the nation captive and it will be again the beginning of sufferings and agonies of the people of the country.

When the leaders are at the last tale of electoral campaign, can anyone ask each of them, especially the two Begums, a very simple question? Are you going to accept the electoral result? If they say, yes, surely it will be the best New Year gift to the nation from the esteemed leaders. Otherwise, we shall have to get set to face more sufferings and pains.

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Simple question to two Begums

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