With the national election four months away, major political parties are locked in a debate over the neutrality of the government and the Election Commission. They are accusing one another of manipulating the interim government to gain advantage in the run-up to the polls. The BNP alleges that individuals aligned with Jamaat-e-Islami have been given preference in reshuffles and appointments within the administration, while Jamaat claims some advisers are working in favour of a particular group. The NCP, formed out of the July uprising, meanwhile accuses the BNP and Jamaat of sharing key administrative and police posts. Against this backdrop, the parties met the chief adviser over the past two days and registered their concerns.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday expressed serious reservations about the neutrality of the Election Commission, public administration, and the police, demanding necessary reshuffles in these institutions ahead of the polls.
A four-member delegation of the party raised the demands at a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna.
"We said a few individuals are misleading him [the chief adviser]. We said we have confidence in him, but some of his advisers are working in favour of a particular party. We said he needs to be alert and aware of them," Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher told reporters after the meeting.
He said Jamaat is not demanding their removal but simply drew the chief adviser's attention to the matter.
"In the Election Commission, the Secretariat, and the police administration, around 70 to 80 percent of the officers today are loyal to a political party."
"When we talk to them, they say they are under tremendous pressure. Now, where is that pressure coming from? It's coming from a particular party."
He alleged that a significant number of public prosecutors belong to that party.
The Jamaat leaders urged the chief adviser to ensure a level playing field for all as he heads a neutral, caretaker-style government.
"Necessary reshuffles should be made wherever needed before the election," Taher said.
In response to their demand, the chief adviser told Jamaat leaders that he would personally supervise the matter and make transfers through a lottery system.
"We said we had no objection to that. You can hold a lottery, but make sure no unseen 'influence' is there," Taher said.
The Election Commission has not yet announced an official date for the national polls. However, it is preparing to hold the election in the first half of February, in line with the chief adviser's announcement following his meeting with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in London in June, and his televised address on August 5 marking the first anniversary of the July uprising.
Jamaat leaders during yesterday's meeting also discussed the July charter implementation process with Yunus.
They said the July National Charter must be granted legitimacy through an executive order. "We have consistently said that if it is legally sound, then the chief adviser should issue the order, not the president. Everyone knows whose product this president is," Taher said.
He said that the charter is not constitution. "It is an extra-constitutional arrangement, which any government has the authority to issue when faced with such a situation. And the chief adviser agreed that this should be done through an order."
"The order will serve as the basis for a referendum. We've made this position very clear. We believe the chief adviser has been convinced by our argument" Taher said.
The Jamaat leader also thanked BNP for agreeing on the referendum issue.
"However, they are now trying to complicate the matter by insisting that the referendum and the national election must be held the same day. These are two entirely separate processes," Taher said.
"Since BNP did not originally support the referendum, they agreed only under public pressure. But now they've added a twist. In the meeting, we made it clear that we don't accept any such twist. The referendum must be held first, in a simple and straightforward manner."
He said they did not discuss the caretaker government issue for two reasons. First, the issue is still under hearing in the Supreme Court. Once the SC delivers its ruling, they will bring the caretaker issue into the discussion accordingly.
"We believe the current government is interim and should remain so. If the Supreme Court's order does not contradict this, then this government will continue to play the role of a caretaker government," Taher said.
In a press statement, the Chief Adviser's Press Wing quoted Taher as saying in the meeting, "The referendum must be held before the national election because the July charter contains many issues linked to the national polls."
Taher also said, "If the referendum and the national election are held the same day, there is a risk that the voting process will be prolonged."
The National Citizen Party yesterday expressed serious concerns over what it described as the Election Commission's partial and non-transparent activities and urged the government to restructure it to ensure a free and fair election.
The call came during a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
A four-member delegation, led by NCP Convener Nahid Islam and including Chief Organiser (northern region) Sarjis Alam, Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, and Joint Convener Khalid Saifullah, met Yunus in the evening.
At a press conference afterwards, the NCP leaders raised issues related to the commission's neutrality, the stalled July uprising trials and the implementation of the July charter.
The commission was not functioning as mandated by the constitution and appeared biased towards certain parties, Nahid said.
He cited examples such as the registration of the newly formed "Jatiyo League", disputes over the "shapla" symbol and the commission's stance on the case involving Ishraque Hossain.
"If we are not allotted our symbol, it will not be possible for us to take part in the election. If we are denied our symbol without any valid explanation, it will raise questions about the commission's impartiality and sense of justice."
The government had assured them of measures to create a neutral environment and a level playing field for all parties, he added.
The NCP also questioned the neutrality of recent administrative transfers and postings, alleging that ministries were being divided among political groups with support from within the advisory council.
Regarding student advisers in the government, Nahid said they represented the July uprising and not any political party.
"If student advisers are seen as political representatives, the same should apply to other advisers with political backgrounds," he said.
About the July charter, Nahid said the party would sign it only after receiving guarantees of its implementation.
"It is not enough to sign a document -- there must be a constitutional order to ensure execution. And only Dr Yunus -- whose legitimacy stems from the July uprising -- can issue it."
The caretaker issue could only be addressed after a referendum, as specified in the charter.
"Those calling for it now might have other motives," he said.
Nahid added that the government had promised to review the NCP's proposals after receiving the National Consensus Commission's recommendations.
"We believe both the Election Commission and the advisory council must demonstrate neutrality and competence for a fair election. Without that, neither reform nor justice can be achieved," he added.
At the meeting, the NCP also expressed concern about the pending July murder cases, saying many accused were out on bail and threatening victims' families.
It urged the government to publish the current status of about 800 cases and announce a timeline for their disposal before the election.
At the briefing, Sarjis said the delegation discussed youth issues, particularly the revised Non-Cadre Recruitment Rules 2025, which awaits the chief adviser's approval.
"He assured us that once the file reaches his table, it will be signed within a week," he said.
In a separate meeting, leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami also met with Yunus.
Meanwhile, the CA press wing in a statement said the chief adviser assured both the parties that the interim government would take all necessary steps to ensure the upcoming national election is free and fair.
To make the polls peaceful and festive, he sought cooperation from all political parties, including Jamaat and the NCP.
During the meeting, Yunus urged the NCP to sign the July charter.
"This charter is a priceless asset for the nation -- participation of everyone is important here," he told the NCP delegation.
He also assured the NCP that the National Consensus Commission was working on the process of implementing the charter.
Nahid said the NCP had already sent a letter to the commission, seeking discussions with its legal experts, said the CA press wing statement.