The Opposition has alleged massive rigging by the AL and resorting to threats and intimidations by it. The AL counters the opposition charge by pointing out that most of the 19 persons who were killed in poll-related clashes on the polling day were their workers. The opposition has demanded that the elections be declared null and void by the Election

Commission and fresh poll held under a ‘neutral’ government. The demand is certainly not going to be accepted by the ruling coalition which is gloating over its scale of victory which is both unprecedented and unexpected.

Most foreign media have reported the opposition charge of rigging.. Even the Daily Star of Dhaka, considered friendly to the ruling dispensation, reported the scene on the polling day thus:

“It was something hardly seen ever in any election in the country — finding trace of the key opposition party was a real challenge, except for in its electoral symbol on ballot papers.

“A few polling agents, posters, supporters or loyal voters of the BNP could rarely be seen by The Daily Star in polling centres across Dhaka. As if a miracle force wiped out most of them on the day of the national election yesterday.

“All one could see was BNP's political rival, the ruling Awami League. The signature of AL was all over the places so much so that the polls looked to be participated by none but one party.

“Gatherings of AL men outside polling centres, voting slips of AL candidates, polling agents of AL and journey from gates of polling centres to booths looked after by AL were the features of the day.”

Former Bangladesh President Hussain Mohamed Ershad’s Jatiya Party, a constituent of the AL-led front, came second, winning 20 seats.

Will the just held elections bring to an end the confrontationist politics of the two major political fronts – one led by the AL and the other by the BNP, whose leader Begum Khaleda Zia is serving a ten year prison term? Bangladesh watchers think it hardly likely. In an interview, eminent writer and intellectual Akbar Ali Khan has said:

“Two fronts participated in this election. Both the fronts have been engaged in a politics of conflict for a long time. The conflict did not end with the present election. The same politics of confrontation continues. So, we are entering 2019 with the same politics of confrontation. It is unfortunate for us that no political party took the initiative to lessen the intensity of this confrontation.”

This succinctly sums up the present situation and portends the future. In fact, some observers believe that the ‘massive/’ victory of the ruling AL and the equally ‘massive’ defeat of the opposition front may drive the fundamentalist elements to desperation. Particularly the section of youth which is under the influence of the opposition parties may lose faith in parliamentary democracy. The possibility of their getting ‘outside’ support cannot be ruled out.

Both Pakistan and China are closely watching the political situation in Bangladesh. There have been reports of ISI helping fundamentalist forces with money and material. If desperation drives the extremist sections underground, it may be a cause of worry for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The allegation of rigging cannot be rejected out of hand. Even the foreign press has reported cases of bunches of ballot papers being ‘”stuffed” into ballot boxes by policemen. Workers of the opposition NUF were allegedly chased away from the vicinity of polling booths, with the AL men having a field day for themselves.

This is not to say that the Awami League would not have won if there were no ‘hyperactivity’ of its workers and supporters. The ruling party would have won but its victory would have been more credible and convincing and not been mired in controversy.

In the opinion of Kamal Hossain, chairman of the opposition NUF, “These are actions of a nervous regime, which feels that power is slipping from its hands. Now, they are doing these extraordinary things of arresting people right, left and centre, using police in a way that shames me because I have been part of the writing of the original constitution in 1972.”

Sheikh Hasina has won. Her party and her front have been returned to power again for the third consecutive term. But her opponents have not accepted and reconciled themselves to the poll results. How they react and what they do remains to be seen. If there is a turn to more intense fundamentalism and Islamist radicalism, will the parliamentary opposition go with them or will there be a schism in the opposition ranks? Whatever happens, Bangladesh politics is destined to remain in a flux for a long time, as Akbar Ali Khan has visualized.(IPA Service)