The interim government is preparing for both national and local government elections, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus said recently.
However, the majority of the political parties, including the BNP and Jatiyo Party, prefer local government elections to be held after the national elections.
Conversely, parties such as Islami Andolan, the AB Party, and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee advocate for prioritising local elections.
Several parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, remain undecided on their stance.
Sources within the BNP indicate that the party opposes local government elections under the interim administration.
They perceive this as a tactic to bolster new political entities aligned with the government, by appointing administrators and forming youth-led political groups.
They argue that historically, local representatives have gravitated towards government-backed parties, lured by state benefits.
Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP's Standing Committee, stated to the press, "National elections must precede local government elections. No interim government in Bangladesh's history has conducted local elections before national ones."
Another senior BNP member, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the interim government should focus solely on organising national elections, and suggesting that the local election preparations could be part of a broader, long-term plan benefiting specific parties or individuals.
Concerns about law and order, and potential violence during local elections under the interim government, have led the BNP to oppose such plans.
Jatiyo Party Chairman GM Quader also expressed scepticism about local elections being held first, citing a lack of a level playing field and diminishing public confidence in the interim administration.
The interim government's decision to remove mayors from 12 city corporations on 19 August, along with the subsequent dismissal of councillors, district council chairmen, and members, has left many areas without elected representatives, further fuelling the debate.
While some demand immediate local elections to restore services, others argue this will only serve to delay the crucial national elections.
Political leaders like Saiful Haq of the Revolutionary Workers Party and Shahadat Hossain Selim of the 12-party alliance have voiced strong opposition to local elections preceding national ones.
They argue that any attempt to hold local elections first would further complicate the political landscape and possibly extend the tenure of the interim government beyond its mandate.
On the other hand, Islami Andolan and the AB Party see no issue with conducting local elections first, suggesting it could test the interim government's reform initiatives and administrative neutrality.
Jatiya Nagorik Committee also highlighted the deteriorating local services and the need to restore functional local governance promptly.
As political discourse intensifies, parties like Jamaat-e-Islami and the Gono Adhikar Parishad remain cautious, awaiting clearer government directives before declaring their positions.
The overarching consensus among major political factions is that the national elections should take precedence, with a definitive date for these elections to be announced promptly to prevent further political unrest.
