February 12 Election Will Not Be Inclusive Without Awami League: CPD

Dhaka: The February 12 national election will fail to be inclusive if the Awami League remains excluded, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said on Saturday, warning that the absence of one of the country’s major political parties could raise serious questions about the credibility of the polls.
The observation came during a CPD media briefing titled “Green and Sustainable Economy: Scenarios and Expectations—Findings from Candidate and Voter Surveys”, where the research organisation presented the results of several opinion surveys conducted in different constituencies.
According to CPD, supporters and voters of the Awami League—whose political activities are currently banned—still constitute a significant segment of the electorate and could play a decisive role in determining the final election outcome. Ignoring the views and participation of this large voter base, the think tank warned, may weaken public trust in the election process.
CPD noted that survey data suggest the exclusion of major political stakeholders could negatively affect voter turnout and the overall acceptance of the results. It stressed that an election lacking broad-based participation risks losing both domestic and international legitimacy.
To ensure a credible, participatory, and acceptable election, CPD emphasised the need to include all major political parties and their supporters in the democratic process.