Once again, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) faces an election dilemma. The looming question is whether the BNP will also boycott the upcoming upazila elections scheduled to commence in May, following the 'election' of the National Parliament on January 7th. Despite assertions from top BNP leaders indicating their intent not to participate in this election, the matter continues to circulate within political circles, civil society, and even among ordinary citizens.

It is indeed evident that the BNP's participation in elections conducted under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina's government is meaningless. The government has consistently interfered blatantly in every election it has held, be it at the national or local level, where the BNP has been involved. Despite BNP's repeated participation in the Dhaka city corporation elections, the treatment meted out to BNP candidates and leaders during those elections is well-documented. Similar scenarios unfolded in elections held in various other city corporations. The outcomes of these elections are glaringly transparent.

When the BNP opts to boycott an election in protest, it invariably renders the election a mere farce. Whether the voter turnout stands at 5 per cent or 15 per cent, it miraculously inflates to 50 per cent. These elections often devolve into a spectacle of "us vs us" or "us vs dummy," with the ruling party treating them as a jest. Even the question, 'Is there any fairer election other than this?' was posed during a press conference aimed at journalists. Such ludicrous antics emanate from the upper echelons of the government, orchestrated in an attempt to hoodwink the populace. However, the people are not as naive as they are perceived to be. They remain unswayed by such campaigns and propaganda, refusing to succumb to the feigned jubilation of the government's influential figures. Nevertheless, the government and its loyalists persist in committing these transgressions unabated, thereby severely undermining the country's democracy and jeopardizing its democratic ethos.

BNP must contemplate its role in safeguarding the nation's democratic ethos. BNP must reflect on whether its election boycott inadvertently consolidates autocratic tendencies within the Awami League.

It is glaringly apparent that the BNP's decision to abstain from elections doesn't register as a source of regret, disappointment, or embarrassment for Awami League; instead, it presents an opportunity. This opportunity extends to the Awami League as a party and its leaders at various levels, who stand to gain positions such as MPs, Chairmans, or Mayors uncontested. For Awami League, such uncontested elections mitigate the stigma associated with electoral malpractice, albeit at the expense of the democratic process. The character of Awami League may be widely recognized; however, the true extent of its actions may be obscured by BNP's election boycotts. Therefore, the BNP must deliberate on deeply: will they continue to provide Awami League with the chance to conceal its true nature through repeated boycotts, or will they opt to contest elections and expose the party's shortcomings and malpractices for all to see?

The top leadership of Awami League appears intent on marginalizing the BNP and completely eradicating it from the political landscape, leaving no room for the latter to engage in politics. In a democratic environment, it is the responsibility of the government to create a political space where all opinions can be expressed freely. However, the current government's actions have led some BNP leaders to draw comparisons between the Awami League and authoritarian regimes like North Korea, headed by Kim Jong Un. Given this reality, it seems unlikely that the current government would willingly provide space for the BNP to operate within the political sphere. In the face of such circumstances, the BNP should persist in restoring democracy and uphold the voting rights of the people.

BNP leaders assert that they are actively engaged in a movement that has faced forceful suppression by the government. Sheikh Hasina's administration has systematically sidelined the BNP from the streets, maintaining its grip on power by using surrogate candidates in elections. The Awami League persists in perpetuating a political game that has been ongoing for over a decade and a half, manipulating elections to their advantage. This pattern will continue until there is no opposition standing against them on the electoral battleground. BNP holds the key to ensuring that the upcoming upazila elections are not reduced to games orchestrated by Awami League. The most crucial step in this regard is for the BNP to reenter the electoral arena. If the BNP returns to the electoral arena, the people will also return.