A free and fair general election is vital for both national dignity and economy, observed economists and businesses on Sunday.
They made the observation after the United States announced a new visa policy restricting visa for any Bangladeshi individual undermining the democratic election process and European Union ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley stressed the need for a free and fair election for getting the GSP Plus facility in the EU.
The next general election in Bangladesh is scheduled to be held at the end of 2023 or early 2024.
Economists said that it was very unfortunate as the US had to impose the visa restriction for holding a free and fair election in the country whereas a democratic process should always prevail in the county for the dignity of the country’s people.
The EU ambassador linked the issue of a free and fair election in Bangladesh with the Generalised Scheme of Preference Plus facility for its exports and it was made clear that both the US and the EU want free and fair polls in the country, they said.
Business leaders hoped that the political issues would be resolved politically and the government would hold a credible election in accordance with its promise.
Bangladesh export trade largely depends on the access to the EU and US markets and businesses believe that the two markets would not impose any restrictions on business due to political reasons.
‘Both the US and the EU wanted to give a clear message over a free and free election. The EU has linked GSP Plus with a free and fair election and it has an economic implication for Bangladesh,’ Centre for Policy Dialogue distinguished fellow Mustafizur Rahman told New Age on Sunday.
‘Holding a free and fear election is a must also for our own national dignity,’ he said.
The government should take the issue seriously as credible elections would be needed to strengthen the democracy and economy of Bangladesh, Mustafiz said.
‘I think that the EU is trying to make the domestic constituencies interested to hold a free and fair election. The EU ambassador linked GSP Plus with the issue to make an economic incentive for the election,’ former World Bank Bangladesh Office lead economist Zahid Hussain said.
Local businesses are gaining from the GSP facility provided by the EU and the suspension of the facility would erode the export competitiveness of Bangladesh, he said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on May 24 announced a new visa policy to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair and peaceful national elections, restricting visa for any Bangladeshi individual undermining the democratic election process.
EU ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Saturday said that free and fair elections would be a positive signal for Bangladesh for its readiness to get the GSP Plus facility for exports of Bangladeshi products to the EU market.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association executive president Mohammad Hatem said that a negotiation between Bangladesh and the EU was going on over the amendment of some strict provisions in the proposed new GSP Plus regulations so that Bangladesh could avail the facility in the EU market in 2029.
‘The EU has agreed in principle to amend some of the provisions in the proposed GSP regulation for giving facility to Bangladesh. If the next general election is not accepted by the EU, they can decline to amend the provisions,’ he said.
Hatem hoped that the government would keep the political issue away from economic and business issues.
Hopefully, the government would take into account the requirements conveyed by international communities and the country’s business would remain intact, he said.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed said that the government would have to announce a concrete polity on how it would hold a credible election to protect the interest of the country.
The EU and the US have long been talking about a free and fair election in Bangladesh as the people of Bangladesh are not convinced that a credible election would be held or not, he said.
The US and the EU have already given their signals and now the government would have to make them believe that required measures would be taken to ensure a free and fair election, Salehuddin observed.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice-president Md Shahidullah Azim said that the business sector might face pressure due to the agenda of the US and the EU over the upcoming election in Bangladesh.
‘Moreover, I think that the government would resolve the issues carefully and the business relations with all countries will remain unaffected,’ he said.
