Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, has said that if the national elections are not held next February, it will not only create internal instability in Bangladesh but also disrupt national security. However, he also said, “If there is no agreement on the structural changes in the state, then I am afraid that there will be no fundamental change in the place where we stand through the elections.”
Ali Riaz made these remarks while participating in a roundtable meeting at the Prothom Alo office on Saturday (August 13) afternoon. The meeting was organized by Prothom Alo under the title “The Path to Political Consensus for Elections.”
The Vice-Chairman of the Consensus Commission said at the meeting, “I have repeatedly called on the political parties. They have responded sufficiently, but at some point or another, the process has to end, it cannot be an endless process. In that case, the elections have to be held. If the election is not held in February, not only will there be internal instability in Bangladesh; national security will be disrupted. That is what I think. That is why political parties need to deal with this.’
Ali Riaz said, ‘We are holding the upcoming election because we want to ensure a number of changes in the state structure. While working in the Reform Commission, we saw that the crisis of the last 16 years is not a 16-year crisis. We saw the horror of the 16-year crisis; because a personal dictatorship was established. But structurally, we have come to this place in different ways.’
Ali Riaz said, ‘Now if we keep that structure intact, make very few changes, where will you go after the election? One person will win, one party will come to power, and rule the country? We want a consolidated democracy. We have not achieved this despite trying three times (1973, 1991, and 2009). If we cannot agree on structural changes, then I fear that there will be no fundamental change in the place we stand in the next election. The unity that was established between the political parties in the fight against Sheikh Hasina’s individualistic dictatorship and in its aftermath has become fragmented. This is why the differences have arisen. If what we want is clear through this election, then I think we can get to that point.’
BD TIME NEWS 24
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