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Polls Under Emergency

Govt, parties must reach understanding

M Abul Kalam Azad and Hasan Jahid Tusher
With major political parties uniting against holding the overdue ninth parliamentary poll under the state of emergency, and the military backed caretaker government making clear its intention of having the election under the emergency, a face off seems a strong possibility.
Although most of the parties accepted the recently held elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities amid the emergency, they have been saying that the government should not plan for holding the parliamentary election under a state of emergency, considering its national significance.
A political analyst and a legal expen observed that both sides must reach an understanding on the issue which is likely to be the focal point of contention ahead of the election.
Meanwhile, both sides, digging their heels in respective positions, have staned lobbying the interna-
tional community to gain support.
The government, after the recent violence-free local government elections is pressing for the national election under the emergency, while the political parties are saying the success in holding the recent elections should not become a logic for holding the national poll under an emergency. The parties have been demanding total withdrawal of the state of emergency ahead of the parliamentary poll.
"The government has to sort it out with the politicians, so both sides may reach a consensus before the election. There is no alternative to it," observed Prof Emajuddin Ahmed while talking to The Daily Star last night.
He said a state of emergency and elections do not go together. "If the poll is held under an emergency, the credibility of it will be questioned at home and abroad," Emajuddin, who taught politics at Dhaka University, pointed out.
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Eminent lawyer Shahdin Malik said legally a state of emergency means restrictions on freedom of movement, expressions and assembly. "Polls cannot be held freely and fairly if these rights are restricted."
About the political parties’ demand for lifting the emergency, the legal expen said, "The demand should prevail over the government's stance, as it is neither against the constitution nor illegal."
Soon after the local government polls of August 4, the chief election commissioner and some advisers to the caretaker government hinted that the national election the government had promised to hold in the third week of December this year, will be held under the state of emergency.
LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal made it clear on Thursday that the parliamentary election, the final step towards switching to democracy, will surely be held under the state of emergency.
But top leaders of major political parties have been putting pressure on the government to lift the
emergency, saying the election will not be free, fair and neutral with political rights restricted.
Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina who is currently in the US for treatment, already instructed her party not to take pan in the parliamentary poll if held under ah emergency.
"With instruction from Sheikh Hasina, I'm saying that Awami League will not take part in the elections under the emergency," Acting AL President Zillur Rahman told reporters after a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
The European Union in the meantime announced that it will not send observers if the national poll is held amid an emergency. The government however urged the union to reconsider, while different foreign diplomats also echoed the view of the political parties.
Fakhruddin Ahmed-led interim government imposed the state of emergency in the country in early January of last year against a back-drop of days of political violence over holding the ninth parliamentary election.