The Political Motivations Behind TIB's Remarks on Bangladesh's General Election

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has recently made remarks on Bangladesh's general election that have been perceived as politically motivated. This article aims to dissect these comments and shed light on the underlying issues.

The Silence Over BNP Jamaat's Undemocratic Calls

One of the main criticisms against TIB's remarks is their silence over the undemocratic calls made by the BNP Jamaat alliance. These calls, which include grabbing power without polls and launching arson attacks on voters, are detrimental to democracy. Yet, TIB and several other entities have equated the absence of the BNP-Jamaat combine from the polls as the death knells for democracy, completely ignoring the wave of violence unleashed by the BNP Jamaat combine on voters.

The assertion that BNP Jamaat is an essential part of the polls to make it participatory is absurd. It is a clear indication of the one-sided observation of TIB, which has remained silent over the undemocratic demands raised by the BNP-Jamaat alliance. These demands include restoring the caretaker government, an unelected system to oversee the polls, and grabbing power without polls.

The Danger of Undemocratic Demands

Political scientists believe these demands are dangerous, undemocratic, and an insult to politics and politicians. The extraconstitutional role played during the last stint of the caretaker-led government directly placed effort to undermine democracy. Yet, TIB's observation lacked any condemnation for these unjustified demands, making it biased and a threat to democracy. Observers have described the absence of these criticisms as advocacy for these undemocratic demands.

The Ignored Violence

In 2013, centering the tenth parliamentary polls, the BNP-Jamaat duo unleashed a series of attacks including the firebombing of buses and trains. This led to around a hundred being burnt alive with thousands suffering burnt injuries. Similar attacks on voters were employed by BNP Jamaat in the prelude to the last national polls, yet the TIB assessment refused to criticize these demands.

The Betrayal of TIB's Stated Objective

On the other hand, TIB's silence on the elevation of Tarique Rahman, who stood well exposed for indulging in flagrant corruption including taking bribes from companies in exchange for awarding government contracts when his mother ruled the country, is a complete betrayal to the stated objective of TIB.

The Gaffe in TIB's Narrative

Moreover, echoing BNP’s version of voter turnout at the polls instead of accepting the challenge of EC and offering any substantial proof, emerged as another gaffe in the TIB narrative.

The Reality of the Situation

In reality, the rejection of the BNP’s anti-election stance by the Bangladeshi populace signifies not only a rejection of disruptive tactics but also a marked advancement in democratic maturity among the electorate. By actively participating in the electoral process, the citizens have made their voices heard, reinforcing the notion that active democratic engagement is crucial for shaping a nation’s direction.

The Difficulty of Accepting Awami League's Victory

Awami League’s victory seems difficult for such so-called bodies including TIB to swallow. So, these organizations should get over to act independently. Earlier six global bodies including the controversial ANFERL issued a statement and called for a fresh election, a similar observation fails to condemn any such undemocratic demand on the part of BNP Jamaat.

In conclusion, it is clear that TIB's remarks on Bangladesh's general election are politically motivated and biased. It is crucial for such organizations to act independently and uphold the principles of democracy.