Wednesday, October 15, 2025

‘Bid to skip dialogue will spell disaster’

Country’s eminent citizens including constitutional experts on Tuesday said the country would face a ‘catastrophic situation’ if the ongoing political stalemate over the holding of the next general elections could not be resolved. In this connection they also stressed the need for holding dialogue among the major political parties immediately to find out a solution.Talking to The Indepen-dent Barrister Rafiq Ul Huq, Dr Kamal Hossain, Dr Shadhin Malik, former Chairman of TIB M Hafijuddin Khan, and Professor Dr Borhan Uddin Khan of the Law Department of Dhaka University made it clear that without political dialogue the present crisis could nor be resolved.
Their observation came in the wake of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s announcement on Monday that the election would be held under the present government as per the present Constitution.
The main opposition BNP which has been demanding a poll-time caretaker government outright rejected the announcement saying that PM’s stance reflected government’s unwillingness to reach a consensus.
“There is no way out without dialogue. I have been suggesting this since the emergence of the present crisis. Both the ruling Awami  League and the opposition BNP must sit to find out the solution,” Barrister Rafiq ul Huq told The Independent.
He also noted that the present crisis could not be resolved by outsiders.
“The solution lies with our political parties and it is they who should resolve it. If both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition reached a consensus then the crisis would be solved,” he added.
“If the opposition does not go to election under the present government then that election would not get credibility. So to have a credible election consensus is a must”, he noted.
Dr Kamal Hossain apprehended a catastrophic situation if a consensus could not be reached over the poll time government system.
He, however, suggested that not only the political parties, but such a dialogue should also involve all the stakeholders including professional groups, women representatives etc.
“Right now I do not want to give any expert opinion on constitutional methods. What I feel is that a national dialogue is a must to find out a formula which would be acceptable to all. A system which would be acceptable to all would also be acceptable to me,” he said.
He warned that the continuation of the political crisis would result in a grave consequence for the country.
Responding to a question he said that people did not give Awami League the mandate to scrap the caretaker government system. And it was not in their election manifesto.
“In the last few decades we have advanced a lot and we have achieved many things.
All our achievement would be spoiled and our possibilities to make further achievement would be diminished if we cannot resolve the present crisis”, he said.
Chairman of SUJAN, a civil society platform Dr Hafij Uddin Khan said that election under a political government is not acceptable and also illogical under the present circumstances.
The former caretaker government adviser said that since the two major parties do not trust each other and the election commission has also become controversial, election under this government as spelled out by the prime minister will not be a credible one.
Dr Hafij was also critical of holding elections without dissolving the parliament and the cabinet.
In all the parliamentary democracies including UK, Australia, and India, parliament and cabinet are dissolved before the elections and the incumbent prime minister stays in office at the request of the head of state, he said.
Dr Shadihn Malik said that politically AL will be loser if it holds election without dissolving both the parliament and the cabinet.
If the prime minister had said that the parliament would be dissolved then we could say that at least she conceded one demand but now one has to admit that she has not left any space for compromise.
On the other hand Professor Borhan Uddin Khan of Dhaka University expressed his utter dismay over the current political stalemate expecting a discussion between the major political players to resolve it.
“The main spirit of democracy as well as politics is discussion and dialogue. Out political parties are failing to perform their responsibilities by not involving themselves in dialogue. It is also the breach of political ethics,” he said.
The political leaders do not have the right to play with the fate of the 160 million of the country by pushing the country towards confrontation, he observed.
But he hoped that the bitter experience of the 1/11 is still vivid in the memory of the politicians and they would reach a consensus considering the fallout of the present stalemate.
‘Because this time the consequence would be much graver if they failed to perform their due role as politicians,” he added.

-With The Independent input

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more