Daily Times

Sir: More than 20 people died and more than 200 polling stations burnt to ashes — this is what happened in Bangladesh on election day. The opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) remained aloof from the election process. Today, Bangladesh is passing through the worst phase of its history. The recent elections have changed the peaceful scenario of this heaven-like country into a blazing inferno. Mahfuz Sadique of the BBC News, Dhaka, reported on January 5: “The trickle of voters never turned into the long queues Bangladeshi elections are known for. Voters who did turn up had no real choice, as the opposition was not taking part. There was extra security at the few constituencies in Dhaka where voting did take place. But in more remote areas the fear of attacks left voters wary.” This wholesale public indifference to the election process was in fact the result of a nationwide 48-hour strike urged by Mrs Khaleda Zia, the leader of the BNP.

The complete boycott of these elections at the call of the BNP proves in a very strong way that the people of Bangladesh completely disagree with the partial political notion of the ruling Awami League and are totally dissatisfied with the working strategy of the government of Sheikh Hasina. It is high time for the leaders of the Awami League to review their political approach, which is fruitful neither for their party nor for their motherland.

PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER

Multan