¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·

Three major political parties — the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party — have raised allegations against the interim government, questioning its neutrality ahead of the upcoming national election. 

The political parties are raising questions about the government’s neutrality and blaming one another over control of the civil administration, appointing people loyal to their respective parties.

The allegations are being raised at a time when the government begins processes for fresh appointments against the vacant posts of different government agencies and educational institutions and giving promotions at different levels in the bureaucracy. 

Law adviser Asif Nazrul on Wednesday said that all the political parties were raising allegations against the interim administration of being biased towards one group or another.

Responding to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s demand to the chief adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, for playing the role of a non-party caretaker government, the law adviser claimed that the interim government was already functioning neutrally without being biased to any quarter.

‘All political parties make similar allegations against us—one says we are biased toward a particular group, while another says the opposite. Since one accuses us of favouring the other, it indicates that we are performing our responsibilities neutrally,’ the law adviser told reporters at the secretariat.

BNP leaders have accused some advisers of political bias, claiming that administrative reshuffles and appointments are being made in favour of a particular group.

The BNP, at its standing committee meeting on September 13, expressed concern over recent transfers and promotions, alleging that individuals close to a specific party were preferred while the party’s recommendations were ignored. 

The meeting also decided to formally convey the party’s concerns to the chief adviser.

A four-member BNP delegation, led by secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, met Yunus on Tuesday at his state guest house Jamuna residence. 

During the meeting, BNP urged the interim government to operate in a ‘fully-fledged caretaker government mode’, ensuring neutrality in all administrative activities ahead of the Jatiya Sangsad elections, expected to be held early February next year. 

‘We demanded removal of any partisan individuals remaining in the administration to maintain full impartiality,’ Fakhrul told reporters after the meeting, adding that they sought a complete restructuring of the central and field administrations to eliminate loyalists of the ousted regime. 

The BNP delegation also raised concerns over police recruitments and promotions and demanded neutral appointments in the judiciary.

In response, Yunus assured the delegation that all transfers and appointments would be made under his direct supervision and based on merit. 

The BNP recently also objected to the formation of a cabinet committee on administrative appointments, claiming it violated existing rules.

The committee includes advisers Salehuddin Ahmed, Mohammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and Mahfuz Alam, alongside senior bureaucrats. 

Party insiders alleged that two advisers were showing ‘visible bias’, though no names were publicly mentioned. 

Meanwhile, Jamaat raised concerns over the imbalance in key institutions, alleging that 65-80 per cent of officers in the Election Commission, police, and prosecution are loyal to one political party.

During a meeting led by Jamaat’s nayeb-e-amir Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, with chief adviser on Wednesday, the party urged the chief adviser to ensure a level playing field by reassigning officers, who agreed to implement a lottery system while cautioning against manipulation.

Jamaat, during the meeting, also warned that certain advisers were involved in misleading the chief adviser for political ends.

Taher said that they had not demanded the removal of any adviser but emphasised that they expected timely action, warning that further measures would be considered if the issues were not addressed.

Earlier, Jamaat accused certain advisers of ‘conspiracy’, with nayeb-e-ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher claiming to possess evidence, including recorded voices from meetings.

Jamaat secretary general Mia Golam Porwar alleged that some advisers were involved in ‘misleading’ Professor Muhammad Yunus while maintaining secret links with a political faction. 

The National Citizen Party, formed by the leaders of the July 2024 mass uprising, has also turned critical, accusing some advisers of pursuing ‘safe exits’ and political gain.

NCP convener, Nahid Islam, said in a TV interview that ‘many advisers have built liaisons with political parties’. 

During a meeting with chief adviser on Wednesday, Nahid Islam also expressed concern over the neutrality and transparency of the Election Commission, alleging that it had shown favouritism towards certain parties while discriminating against others.

He said that the EC was failing to function as a constitutional institution and warned that if the forthcoming election was not conducted fairly, the government would have to take full responsibility.

Nahid also raised the issue of the party’s registration and its electoral symbol, the water lily, saying that the party would not participate in the election without its symbol.

He called for a clear legal and constitutional explanation for the EC’s refusal to grant its electoral symbol, the water lily.

The NCP convener also raised concerns about the composition and functioning of the advisory council, noting that it had been formed with members selected based on references from various political parties.

He said that ensuring the council’s neutrality and competence was essential for conducting fair elections.

Nahid alleged that certain advisors were assisting major political parties in the distribution of administrative posts and were involved in political affiliations, corruption, and incompetence.

He said that these issues went beyond student advisors, noting that many other members had former political backgrounds.

Nahid expressed serious concerns over public administration transfers and appointments, alleging that major political parties, with help from some advisory council members, were distributing key posts such as superintendents of police and deputy commissioners ahead of the elections.

He also called for reform of the advisory council, urging the chief adviser to remove any advisers accused of incompetence, corruption, or political bias.

Nahid stressed that both student and non-student advisers should be assessed equally, as all represent the mass uprising rather than any particular political group.

Political analysts, however, said that the growing mistrust among the BNP, the NCP and Jamaat, all of whom initially backed the interim government, highlights mounting tension as the election nears. 

After the fall of the Awami League regime on August 5, 2024 amid a student-led uprising, individuals close to the three parties were reportedly appointed to key administrative posts.

The BNP and Jamaat have recently faced off over such appointments, as each allegedly blaming the other for control of the administration, said an official of the education ministry. 

Administrative reshuffles have slowed amid allegations of political lobbying and outside pressure.

Recently, the cabinet secretary post remained vacant for 21 days due to competing demands for loyal appointees. A plan to withdraw 21 deputy commissioners promoted in March as joint secretaries is yet to be implemented. 

A senior official at the public administration ministry said that political lobbying was the main reason for delays in appointing new DCs and field-level officers. 

On the other hand, amid the outside pressure, the education ministry took an unprecedented step by inviting open applications for the post of Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.

Since the fall of the Awami League regime, DSHE has seen three DGs, with Professor Azad Khan being the third to hold the position.

Analysts said that all major political parties were now questioning the interim administration’s neutrality due to their political purposes.