Staff Reporter:
Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of Jatiya Nagorik Committee, on Friday said he will not oppose a logical election date, but holding a credible general election within the coming six months is impossible and unrealistic, due to persistent irregularities in the voting and judicial processes.
After distributing blankets among the poor at the Moqbular Rahman Government College in Panchagarh, the student protest leader also told reporters a political consensus has been reached for finalising the July proclamation, adding it would be declared soon.
Sarjis and others, who led the movement to oust Awami League fascist government from power in August last year, have no issue with holding elections at the earliest. But doing so within the next six months, as demanded by BNP and some other political groups, is both impossible and unrealistic, he said.
Reforms necessary for a credible election cannot be completed within such a short timeframe, he noted.
If the Election Commission, law enforcement agencies and the justice system undergoes comprehensive reforms, a free and fair national election can be held, as per the aspirations of the people, he said.
The government has said elections could be held by mid-2026, less than two years after July-August 2024 uprising, which is relatively early. Even so, the elections could be reasonably held four-five months earlier in December 2025 or January 2026, he told reporters.
However, election was not the only goal of last year’s uprising which saw bloods of hundreds and “hellish sufferings” for many others.
Over the past 16 years, the entire Rangpur division, including Panchagarh, was largely discriminated against in terms of development, Sarjis alleged. No factories were established and only a few roads were constructed. Sarjis and his fellow student leaders would give their utmost efforts to give the people of Panchagarh their due facilities, he said.
Sarjis also said groups would be formed with the general people at all administrative levels to resist against extortions and other forms of oppressive activities.
The grassroots anti-fascist committees would be formed to make the best of the chance given by the Almighty through last year’s uprising.
The groups would take all the necessary measures against unfair activities, Sarjis said.
