A
aadilibrahim
Along with some of our other democratic rights, the right to vote “No” – an option that has previously appeared on election ballots – was stripped away from us earlier this year with the Awami League’s amendment to the RPO.
It is clear that the overwhelming majority of the Bangladeshi populations want the elections to be held under a caretaker government; and it is even more clear that Sheikh Hasina and her party have no plans to take into account the needs and desires of the country in implementing the electoral process. The Bangladeshi people have no mechanism to express their voice in shaping the future of their own country. Integrating the “No” vote on the election ballots is the only way for us ordinary citizens to have any voice in the upcoming elections – and even this right was unjustly denied to us.
Evidence from previous elections in which the no vote was included on the ballot shows that Bangladeshi voters “exercise the option to vote no sparingly and responsibly”. The no vote was included in the last elections in 2008, won by the Awami League. It is only now, when the Awami League knows that it cannot win free and fair elections, that Sheikh Hasina and her party have resorted to removing our democratic choices to ensure that they can usurp power.
Integrating the No vote in the 10th General Elections would be a way to empower the people, and provide the people with a much-needed modicum of democratic choice. The No vote would allow us to call for a fresh election, and would allow us to finally have a say in the future of our own political leadership. It is time that we ourselves decide our leadership, our future, and our legacy.
Say yes to the “No” vote and say yes to giving our people the opportunity to have a voice. Say No to elections that are undemocratic and illegitimate.
It is clear that the overwhelming majority of the Bangladeshi populations want the elections to be held under a caretaker government; and it is even more clear that Sheikh Hasina and her party have no plans to take into account the needs and desires of the country in implementing the electoral process. The Bangladeshi people have no mechanism to express their voice in shaping the future of their own country. Integrating the “No” vote on the election ballots is the only way for us ordinary citizens to have any voice in the upcoming elections – and even this right was unjustly denied to us.
Evidence from previous elections in which the no vote was included on the ballot shows that Bangladeshi voters “exercise the option to vote no sparingly and responsibly”. The no vote was included in the last elections in 2008, won by the Awami League. It is only now, when the Awami League knows that it cannot win free and fair elections, that Sheikh Hasina and her party have resorted to removing our democratic choices to ensure that they can usurp power.
Integrating the No vote in the 10th General Elections would be a way to empower the people, and provide the people with a much-needed modicum of democratic choice. The No vote would allow us to call for a fresh election, and would allow us to finally have a say in the future of our own political leadership. It is time that we ourselves decide our leadership, our future, and our legacy.
Say yes to the “No” vote and say yes to giving our people the opportunity to have a voice. Say No to elections that are undemocratic and illegitimate.