A party leader's prerogatives?
I'm talking about a prominent politician. The intransigence of this person and her party led to the pre-1/11 turmoil and still they are trying to create so many impediments in the way to the next general election in December. Most surprisingly, she is now dictating terms to the government for her release. Her secretary general issued a 72-hour ultimatum to release her (already expired !). She refused to be a voter if not released unconditionally and wants her sons to be sent abroad for “treatment”; she even wants the govt. to recast the EC according to her wish.
Nobody understands why the government thinks the way it does. What is important is the holding of an acceptable free and fair election. If some party deliberately stays away from contesting election with an ulterior motive, it is their independent choice and that does not affect the credibility of the election at all. It is open to each and every citizen of the country to participate in the election, subject to fulfilment of certain obligations. We have seen in the recent municipal and city corporation elections that the “leaders” of the two major political parties called their party men to boycott the election; whereas the general people and even their party men ignored their call and overwhelmingly and spontaneously participated in the election. The same thing will happen in case of upazila and the national elections, whether any leader or her party participates or not.
By refusing to enrol herself as a voter voluntarily, the said leader of the particular party is now disqualified either to vote or to contest in the election which is a blessing in disguise for the nation. Let us not waste our time and energy in sending that 'party leader' and her sons abroad for “treatment”. Let us not return to the family dynasty established by them.
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