Crime Desk: Dilip Barua, general secretary of the Bangladesh Communist Party, a 14-party coalition partner led by the ruling Awami League, has expressed doubt whether the upcoming 12th National Parliament election will take place at all. Expressing this doubt in an interview given to BBC recently, he said, “The situation in Bangladesh, national and international, has many limitations for fair elections. There can be no election at all through the slogan of fair election.
When asked about the reason for doubting the election, this ally of Awami League said, “The Prime Minister wants to single-handedly tackle the current situation here.” He wants to tackle all the crises depending on the administration. The matter of involving the people of the country, the politicians is absent there.” Dilip Barua said in response to the question, ‘What do you expect?’ We want free and fair elections. In the 2008 elections why did you not get nominations from 14 parties – BBC asked, he said, ‘In my constituency (Chittagong-1, Mirsrai) Awami League presidium member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain was there. The Prime Minister called me and said, ‘I will make you a minister, don’t vote. Later, the Prime Minister kept his promise. It should be noted that Dilip Barua became the Industries Minister when the Awami League government was formed in 2009.
In response to the question whether your party would have developed more if you had been an MP instead of a minister, Dilip Barua said, ‘It is a relative matter. It depends on the situation, what strategy I am adopting.’ In response to the same question, he also said, ‘Awami League did not keep its word. When the 14th party was formed, it was about agitation, election and government formation together. Awami League first took our government, second time they took someone from the alliance. But next time (current term) he (Prime Minister) went completely alone. He left us on our way. There are many organs of the government, they have not involved anywhere.
During the 2008 elections, what did he think that this government would remain in power for so long, he said, ‘No, I didn’t think so. It will be at least for two terms, I thought. Our government system is not people-oriented. But if you continue to depend on this system of government, you will push the political process down a dark alley. Now our politics has become like that. The Prime Minister is not relying on the political process. He is relying on the administration, intelligence agencies and his experts. Even Awami League as a political party does not have proper activities.
Regarding the current situation of 14 parties, Dilip Barua said, ‘Awami League may be thinking about us – where else will it go, it will stay with us. But our observation is that the youth of 14 parties is over, 14 parties have reached old age, it will die at some stage, it is certain. Will you or your party come out of Awami League? There will come a time, be it before or after elections. We will reevaluate everything. If necessary, I will stay with Awami League, if not, I will not stay.’ He replied to the question, ‘Yes, of course I can.’ Why can’t I.’
In response to this question, Dilip Barua said, ‘The situation will be like this, it is certain.’ It also happened during Bangabandhu’s reign. The Prime Minister is a little better than Bangabandhu. Those who fought with Bangabandhu; Bangabandhu told NAP, CPB to change the signboard. But where then their role was very glorious. The Prime Minister is working on education from there. There are 14 parties talking about movement, election and government formation together. Otherwise we would not have gone with Awami League. If not, Awami League could not have come to power. Without 14 parties, Awami League could not have come to power alone, it was not possible.
“Awami League has made you an MP-minister, given you facilities, so you should be grateful,” he said, “We should also be grateful.” Without 14 parties, they could not have come to power. It’s a gentleman’s agreement, a mutual understanding. You give me some concessions, I will give you some concessions. He is there three times. We were not told then that we would be taken once or twice.’
Will be minister-MP again – BBC asked, he said, ‘I hope not. That reality is slowly getting better.’ The election ahead, surely Awami League will sit with you – when asked about this, he said, ‘Maybe there will be some kind of talk. That too will belong to the Daisara group. Moreover, whether there will be an election or not is also a matter. Source: BBC
