Awami League is adamant about the previous position regarding the National Assembly elections. The ruling party want to hold the next election in the light of the constitution.
Therefore, the government is not taking into account the pressure of foreign diplomats, including the United States, and the one-sided movement of the opposition, including the BNP, on the demand of the caretaker government. The Election Commission has already announced the National Assembly elections in the first week of January.
Prime Minister’s Office said that Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to go to Delhi on September 8 to attend the G-20 summit.
About this visit, Foreign Secretary Masood bin Momen said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet in Delhi on Friday evening. In this meeting, the two heads of government will discuss various issues including Teesta.
However, according to political observers, one of the main topics of the meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi will be the next parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return home soon after completing the G-20 conference in New Delhi, India. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to return home by Sunday, September 10. French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Dhaka on the same day. He will also come from Delhi.
By the middle of this month, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has another important foreign tour program, that is the New York trip. The Prime Minister will attend the session of the United Nations General Assembly held there.
Sheikh Hasina celebrated her birthday (September 28) in the United States, but this time she is planning to stay in the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return to the country before September 28, according to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office.
After that, he will start his campaign for the 12th National Assembly election by visiting the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet. But the date is not finalized till now.
According to Article 123 of the current constitution, there is an obligation to hold the next parliamentary elections within 90 days before the end of the term of the National Parliament. Before that the 11th National Parliament election held on December 30, 2018.
The first session of that parliament was held on January 30. Therefore, due to the constitutional obligation, the National Assembly elections must be completed within 90 days before January 29, 2024.
As such, the countdown to the National Assembly election is starting from November 1. Sources say that if everything goes well, the election schedule will be announced in the first week of November.
However, so far, no discussion has come out regarding the formation of the government during the election period. Although many in the current cabinet feel, they may be kept in charge till October 30 at the latest.
Meanwhile, the BNP and its allies have announced that they will intensify their movement to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a caretaker government. But so far Awami League is not paying any attention to any movement program of the opposition.
The rulers think, let the BNP and its allies continue the movement. But the Awami League will push the entire country towards the National Assembly elections from the last week of September.
After that, some kind of campaigning will be intensified in the election festive across the country. In that situation, the movement of BNP will not get attention.
The government and Awami League policy makers feel that after returning from the G-20 conference, they will be able to give a clear message about the next election.
They believe that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will bring a green signal in this regard from world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After that, he will be able to reach a deal with the United States while attending the United Nations General Assembly session in New York on another trip this month.
According to the existing constitution, the Election Commission will organize the National Assembly elections.
The current Prime Minister will continue his routine duties as Chief Executive during this time. Article 57(3) of the Constitution states that the Prime Minister shall transfer power to an elected representative.
Awami League wants that according to the instructions of the constitution, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will perform the duties of the head of the government during the election. The 12th National Assembly election will be held under him.