The Liberation War of Bangladesh, which took place in 1971, stands as a remarkable moment in the nation’s history, marking not only its struggle for independence but also serving as the foundation for the establishment of democracy. The people of East Pakistan felt marginalized, economically exploited, and culturally oppressed by the West Pakistani government. The freedom fighters of the Liberation War guided and inspired by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought for a democratic country which would maintain social equality and provide all fundamental rights to its citizens. For this, the newly established country chose a multi-party parliamentary system of governance by introducing one of the most democratic and secular constitutions of the whole world. After the tragedy of 15 August 1975, authoritarian rule and political instability characterised the years 1975–1990. Following two coups d’état in 1975 and 1982, military regimes that repressed human rights and political freedoms were established in Bangladesh.
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In addition, after the declaration of emergency, the caretaker government that the army supported was imposed in Bangladesh in 2007. However, the country has improved a lot in terms of ensuring voting rights, continuous democracy, corruption, and concerns over the independence of the judiciary, human rights, human development, and media under leadership of honourable prime minister Shiekh Hasina since 2009. But in the new situation, there is a possibility that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the major political parties, might not participate in the upcoming parliamentary election to discontinue the smooth democratic process. Moreover, some pro-Pakistani political parties being detached from the common people are conspiring with some so-called developed countries to create chaotic situation in Bangladesh.
Inclusive development and growth of Bangladesh:
Inclusive development and growth are two principal indicators of a successful democratic country. However, Bangladesh, a nation with a rich cultural heritage and a history marked by challenges, has made significant strides in achieving inclusive development and growth in recent years. Bangladesh under the present the Awami League government has made remarkable progress in every sector besides reducing poverty over the past decades. Through targeted policies and programs, the government has successfully lifted millions out of poverty. Initiatives like the Social Safety Net Programs, microfinance institutions, and rural development projects have played a crucial role in ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are shared by all segments of the population. This is how, Bangladesh is ensuring social equality for its citizens. Apart from this, Bangladesh has seen an increase in the participation of women in politics, with women holding key leading positions in government and contributing to social development. The government has implemented policies to promote gender equality, improve access to education for girls, and enhance women’s economic opportunities. In addition, Bangladesh has implemented comprehensive social security programs to provide a safety net for vulnerable populations. The introduction of programs like the Universal Pension Scheme, Old Age Allowance, Widow and Distressed Women Allowance, and allowances for people with disabilities has helped ensure a basic level of economic security for those in need. These initiatives contribute to fostering a sense of social justice and inclusivity in the country. Again, the protection of religious and ethnic minorities is a fundamental principle of the present government of Bangladesh. The government is aware of how important it is to safeguard the safety and rights of its entire people, particularly minority groups. Despite occasional acts of violence, it is important to remember that Bangladesh is a multicultural nation where different ethnic and religious groups coexist together and a role model for communal harmony in the whole world.
BNP along with Jamaat plays negative role demanding an unconstitutional election:
The government of Bangladesh is dedicated to holding free, fair, and impartial elections. Bangladesh has a long tradition of conducting democratic elections in a peaceful environment, and the citizens of Bangladesh are certain that this will continue with the upcoming 12th general election. The government of Bangladesh has already taken steps to ensure that the election is free, fair and participatory, including by establishing an independent Election Commission, by appointing election commissioners based on a consultative procedure, by granting financial and administrative autonomy to the Election Commission, by inviting international observers in parliamentary election and by registering all eligible voters. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat are intentionally making chaotic situation with sabotage and international conspiracy. In addition, they are threatening to avoid participation in parliamentary election and create obstruction to hold the election peacefully. Again, they are demanding the revival of caretaker government system which is totally unconstitutional. In terms of poll-time caretaker government, it is important to note that this type of government is unconstitutional according to the present constitution of Bangladesh. In 2011, the 15th constitutional amendment was initiated by the present government of Bangladesh. The amendment ended the practice of caretaker governments and brought back the requirement that general elections be held under the direction of the Election Commission. The desire to facilitate a seamless transition to democracy and worries about its potential for abuse were the main factors behind the decision. Moreover, it is BNP which started to manipulate the caretaker government in 2006 to capture power in an undemocratic way. This is why, the abolishment of Caretaker government system was caused by the activities of BNP. Furthermore, it should be noted that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been accused of corruption, violence, fire arson of busses and public property in 2014 and 2023, and other criminal activities. Since the caretaker government system was abolished, Bangladesh has successfully conducted every general election under the direction of the Election Commission, with the elected government carrying on functions as usual during the election period.
The Role of Young Voter to Secure Democracy and Continued Development:
The right to vote in Bangladesh is ensured in the Constitution of Bangladesh, specifically Article 122, which states that “the elections to Parliament shall be on the basis of adult franchise.” This means that all Bangladeshi citizens who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to vote. In any general election, young voters are considered as floating voters and most of the time, their votes decide the result of any election. It is not an exception in terms of the 12th Parliamentary election in Bangladesh because there are more than 3 crore young voters among total about 12 crore voters here. It is important for young voters to vote for the right candidates for a number of reasons, such as influencing policies that will affect them in the future, bringing a diversity of viewpoints to politics, addressing issues that are unique to young people, encouraging civic engagement, promoting social change, holding elected officials accountable, battling voter apathy, and ultimately protecting and enhancing democracy. This is why, the young voters should be informed about the importance of their valuable votes. Bangladesh is advancing towards a developed and smart country within two decades. This continuation of development and democracy should be secured by the active participation of the young voters of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s democratic journey is still ongoing, and the country faces several challenges, including strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring the good governance and addressing issues of political stability and participation in elections. Despite these challenges, Bangladesh has made significant progress in consolidating its democracy and establishing voting rights for all citizens. We expect Bangladesh to continue this smooth democratic journey overcoming all national and international conspiracy.
