Dhaka, Feb 9, 2026:
Teachers belonging to the Blue Panel of Dhaka University have said that any national election or referendum held without the participation of all political parties will be unacceptable to the nation, describing such a process as a “mockery and deception” against the people.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the pro-liberation teachers’ platform expressed serious concern over the 13th National Parliamentary Election, stating that without the inclusion of all political parties, it cannot be considered an inclusive election nor can it reflect the true will of the people.
The Blue Panel said that public expectations from the interim government were to ensure a free, fair, and democratic election through the participation of all parties, thereby guaranteeing that people’s opinions are reflected in the process of forming the government. “However, the reality is entirely different,” the statement noted.
According to the platform, the government and the Election Commission have failed to create a conducive environment for an acceptable, free, and participatory election by excluding several political parties, including the Bangladesh Awami League and other forces aligned with the spirit of the Liberation War.
Emphasizing the need to protect democracy, the ideals of the Liberation War, and national sovereignty, the teachers said that a neutral, credible, and inclusive election involving all political parties is essential to strengthen and sustain Bangladesh’s democratic process. They warned that without ensuring people’s voting rights through a participatory election, the process would not be acceptable either to the general public or to the international community.
The statement further cautioned that such a flawed and unjust electoral process would severely damage the country’s image, prolong ongoing political conflict and violence, and ultimately hinder Bangladesh’s overall socio-economic development.
The Blue Panel also referred to recommendations made by leading think tanks and professional bodies, including the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB),
Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, as well as journalists’, doctors’, engineers’, and agriculturists’ unions, all of whom have urged the government to hold an inclusive election with the participation of all political parties.
Calling on the government to step back from what it described as a one-sided election, the Blue Panel demanded immediate steps to arrange a free, fair, and inclusive national election with the participation of the Bangladesh Awami League and all other political parties.
