Anandabazar newspaper fears: 'Military coup' may happen again in Bangladesh like 2006

The Dhaka Times Desk In 2006, due to the unstable situation in Bangladesh, a power with the help of the army took power in a coup d'état - Anandbazar newspaper commented that this fear remains.

Anandabazar Patrika, India's influential Bengali language newspaper, published a news story titled 'Vote Nei Ershad too, Aaj Jaining Sujata' in its online edition today, December 4.

Anandabazar newspaper also said in its report, 'Bangladesh's political crisis has become more complicated as Jatiya Party leader Hussain Muhammad Ershad announced his withdrawal from the election. Meanwhile, BNP and its partner Jamaat-e-Islami are boycotting the election and continuing to block it. At least 9 people lost their lives in various violent incidents on Tuesday in different parts of the country. In this situation, India's Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh is sitting in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader Khaleda Zia and Ershad in Dhaka tomorrow. According to the sources of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Sujata may appeal to Khaleda and Ershad to participate in the upcoming elections to resolve the impasse.

Nandabazar newspaper also said, 'After being part of the Awami League-led grand coalition government for five years, Ershad announced to fight alone in the upcoming elections. In the interim government formed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there are 5 full ministers and 2 state ministers from Ershad's party. Calling a press conference today, this former army chief and dictator suddenly announced that his party will not contest as there is no situation for fair elections in the country. He ordered hundreds of candidates of Jatiya Party who have already submitted their nomination papers to withdraw them. Although the BNP workers blamed many places for this incident, the leaders of the party said that they do not trust Ershad, who changed his position time and again. Ershad said that his party will not participate in the elections but will remain in the interim cabinet. However, BNP's spokesperson Salahuddin Ahmed gave a statement saying that Ershad's announcement was 'primarily welcomed'.

Expressing the attitude of the government party, Anandabazar newspaper said, 'The Awami League, however, looked lightly at Ershad's announcement. The leader of the party, State Minister for Communications Odayedul Quader said, "What he says this time, he says the opposite the other day. This time too, it will not be different." In the 2008 elections, Ershad's Jatiya Party won 27 seats by competing in 45 seats as a partner of the Grand Alliance. BNP won 29. According to Mahajot sources, this time Ershad announced to withdraw from the election after demanding 60 to 65 seats from Awami League. Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed also indicated today that he will reconcile with the Jatiya Party over the seat.

Expressing concern, the newspaper said, 'This violence and instability in Bangladesh is a concern for India. There have already been incidents of planned attacks on minorities in Barisal, Satkhira, Chittagong, Kushtia etc. Delhi fears that many people from Bangladesh, especially a section of minorities, will want to cross the border and migrate to India due to lack of security. Criminals can also infiltrate to cover up. In 2006, a military-backed coup d'état took power in Bangladesh under such unstable conditions. This time also that fear remains.' Source: Anandabazar newspaper