The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has escalated its resistance against the government, intensifying blockades and strikes since October, and recently declaring "non-cooperation" to disrupt the crucial general elections set for January 7, 2024.
Urging a collective resistance, the country's major opposition urged citizens and officials to boycott the election and refrain from supporting the government, including refusing to pay taxes, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General, conveyed in a virtual briefing that the movement stemmed from the unmet demand for national polls under a neutral caretaker government. He cited concerns about the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) party organizing what they perceive as a non-representative election.
Contrary to BNP's demands, Bangladeshi Law Minister Anisul Huq dismissed their stance as "unconstitutional."
The upcoming general election involves 1,886 candidates competing for 300 constituencies, comprising 1,529 candidates from 27 parties, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's AL party, and 357 independent candidates.
The opposition's movement, ongoing since late October, has been linked to vandalism, arson attacks, and frequent clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators across Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Recent incidents include the tragic torching of three coaches of a passenger train in Dhaka, resulting in four casualties. A similar event on December 13 led to the derailment of seven train compartments in Gazipur, where one person lost their life. These disruptions were purportedly linked to sabotage amid the opposition's movement.
The escalating violence has prompted the deployment of army personnel nationwide to collaborate with civil authorities, aiming to secure the environment in anticipation of the forthcoming elections.
(With Agency Inputs)
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