Our Constitution emerged through discussion and debate in the Constituent Assembly 50 years ago. Asaduzzaman Khan, the leader of the Awami League, who later became the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of the Awami League, played an active role in the formation of this Parliament.
During the debate in the Constituent Assembly, he said, “…the Constitution we have framed ensures the fundamental rights of the people, but if a government cannot enforce these principles, the people can overthrow it.” and put others in power. We have even made arrangements if they don’t want to step down from power. People can protest, hold rallies and meetings, take out processions. If power If the parties are unable to implement these basic principles, it will not be possible for them to remain in power.”
According to Asaduzzaman Khan as well as Bangabandhu and other leaders of the Constituent Assembly, one of the main fundamental principles was democracy, and free and fair elections for it. But the ruling parties never realized this and that is the reason Bangladesh has to face political conflicts again and again.
And when the main issue of this struggle is the right of the people to vote, it is completely unfair to use the police to impose 26 conditions.
* Asif Nazrul is a professor in the Department of Law at the University of Dhaka.
* This column appeared in the print and online editions of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir