To allow or disallow AL now BNP's dilemma

The government's decision to hold local government elections by the end of this year or early next year has revived a contentious political question: should the banned Awami League (AL) be allowed to take part in the polls or it will be kept outside the national election like February 12.

The debate gathered storm after Prime Minister's Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said on June 10 that Awami League leaders and activists would be allowed to contest the polls after legal process. His remarks drew sharp reactions from across the political spectrum, prompting him to later soften his position. 

Several BNP leaders dismissed the comments as his personal opinion rather than the government's official stance. Repeated attempts by the Daily Observer to contact Zahed Ur Rahman for comment were unsuccessful.

Within the BNP, the issue has triggered extensive discussion but no consensus yet. While many leaders favour inclusive and competitive elections, they insist that the Awami League's legal status, ongoing court proceedings and public sentiment cannot be overlooked.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told the Daily Observer that the Awami League remains a banned political party and, as long as the ban stays in force, it has no scope to participate in local government elections.

At the grassroots, many BNP leaders fear allowing the Awami League back into electoral politics could fuel tensions and law-and-order problems. Some also suspect that in certain areas Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) could indirectly cooperate with Awami League-backed candidates.

A BNP lawmaker from southern Bangladesh, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that a sustained social media campaign has sought to discredit the BNP since before the national election. According to him, any move to rehabilitate the banned Awami League would undermine democratic credibility and send the wrong political message.

Dinajpur BNP General Secretary Bakhtiar Ahmed Kochi said no party decision has yet been taken. Any court ruling regarding the Awami League's status would be considered, but he noted that public opinion remains largely hostile to the party because of its past actions.

Party insiders said the BNP's policymaking body is still assessing the political landscape, Election Commission preparations, law-and-order conditions and the positions of other political parties before announcing an official stance.

Privately, BNP leaders remain divided. One group argues that broad participation would strengthen democracy, while another insists legal and constitutional issues surrounding the banned party must take precedence. Others believe a level playing field for all lawful political actors is essential to ensuring credible elections.

Engineer Miraj Uddin Haider Arju, convener of BNP's Tejgaon Thana unit in Dhaka North, said the decision ultimately rests with the government. However, given the Awami League's recent ban and the prevailing political climate, he believes its participation would be inappropriate at this stage.

Offering a different perspective, BNP Chairperson's Adviser Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal noted that local government elections are not held under party symbols.

 If individuals contest independently and face no public objection, he said, the BNP does not support denying anyone political rights through coercive means.
BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan echoed the non-partisan character of local polls. He said local government institutions are the foundation of grassroots democracy and should remain free from partisan influence. Since the law allows individuals to contest independently, he argued, the key issue is not whether a particular party participates but whether the elections are free, fair and credible.

Government Chief Whip G.K. Gauch said the ruling party does not regard the Awami League as a significant factor in the upcoming local elections, though he warned that attempts could be made to create instability during the electoral process.

Political analysts say the local government elections will serve as an early test of Bangladesh's evolving political landscape. They believe the positions adopted by the government, the Election Commission, the courts and major political parties on the Awami League's participation will significantly shape the competitiveness and credibility of the polls.

Meanwhile, senior BNP leaders said the party has stepped up organizational preparations by identifying potential candidates, consulting grassroots leaders and formulating campaign strategies. However, despite ongoing internal deliberations, the BNP has yet to announce an official position on whether the banned Awami League should be allowed to return to the electoral arena.