Bangladesh, who is facing a terrible financial crisis, is ready for the election. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government, held a meeting with special American envoy Sergio Gore and assured that the elections would be independent and fair. Yunus told Gore that elections will be held in February 2026 and the country is fully ready for this.
Yunus may have assured Gore about elections, but there is confusion about the political class and public about independent and fair elections in Bangladesh. Reports of Indian intelligence agencies say that there is a possibility of widespread violence before the elections, because no party is convinced about the way of operation.
Need for support of Jamaat to form government
Indian officials say that the problem is related to Jamaat-e-Islami. There are indications that the Jamaat will control the election and even rigged it. In the absence of Awami League, referendum surveys indicated that BNP would win elections. However, this also indicated that BNP is unlikely to form a government on its own and may require the support of the Jamaat to form the next government.
However, the ISI, who supports the Jamaat, wants it to become a senior partner in the government and this has raised doubts about how fair the elections will be. Jamaat has the support of Yunus and can try to manipulate the results.
Doubt over the results of student union election
If the Jamaat feels that she will not be able to manipulate elections, then she can emphasize on postponing elections and keeping the current system innovative in association with the newly formed National Citizen Party. The National Citizen Party would support the Jamaat, as its members were part of the July movement, which demolished the Sheikh Hasina government.
The results of the recent Dhaka University students’ union elections are also a reason for skepticism about the elections of many people. The student branch of Jamaat, Islamic student Shibir won a huge victory. BNP’s student branch, student party stood second, but got less than one-third of Shibir votes.
Questions raised on the transparency of elections
This raised doubts over the fairness of elections. BNP congratulated Shibir, but questioned the transparency of elections. These developments clearly show people’s sentiments in Bangladesh. Those who monitor Bangladesh say that after the Awami League is out of the election, BNP is likely to win. However, this will be possible only when elections are independent and fair.
ISI is motivating Jamaat to rigged elections and become senior partners. However, if this plan is not successful, Pakistan would like to work with the current system. For Pakistan, both Yunus and Jamaat are suitable. Both carry forward the agenda of Islamabad and also ensure that relations with India remain cold.
ISI activities intensified due to relaxation of visa norms
With the support of Jamaat, Younus has given Pakistan more than its expectation. Sea routes have been opened for Pakistan and visa norms have been relaxed. Officials of the Intelligence Bureau say that these developments have increased the activities of ISI in Bangladesh.
ISI officials are roaming freely in the country and are actively helping terrorist organizations such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islamic to make their base near the border of India. Another issue for Indian security forces is that the Islamic State is playing an important role in Bangladesh.
Salahuddin Ahmed’s question to Jamaat
Many terrorist groups and radical elements follow the ideology of the violent Islamic State and the involvement of ISI will make this terrorist group even stronger. Apart from this, new friendship between ISI and Islamic State Khorasan province will also promote this terrorist group in Bangladesh.
Keeping all these factors in mind, trust in independent and fair elections is very less. Last week, Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of BNP’s Standing Committee, questioned Jamaat as to why she is trying to obstruct the election if she has so much confidence in power.
Also read:- Advice to make Azam Khan released from jail a new party, Maulana Shahabuddin Rajvi Barelvi made a big claim about Akhilesh Yadav