Desk Report:
Local government advisor Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan has commented that it is ‘difficult’ for a person to contest elections in the reality of Bangladesh without 10-20 crore taka. He said, ‘No one can contest elections unless they have 20 crore taka. That means, in the current reality of Bangladesh, it is difficult for anyone to contest elections unless they have at least 10-20 crore taka.’
He said these things at a discussion titled ‘November to July: From Revolution to Revolution’ at the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club in the capital on Friday afternoon.
The advisor said, ‘In such a reality, only those who have black money have the opportunity to participate in elections. The election you take money from someone, after being elected, you have to implement their interests. If you take money from a businessman or someone else today and contest elections, then you have to look at their interests.’
Asif Mahmud said, ‘We also have to think repeatedly whether to hold elections or not. If we do, how will we do it; Will people vote without money or how realistic is it for us to hold elections in the existing structure? Many people quote Zohran Mamdani and say that this is possible. But this is an exceptional case. An exceptional case cannot happen in 300 seats.’
In the discussion meeting, poet and statesman Farhad Mazhar said that according to the constitution, there is no legitimacy for the interim government. In building a new state, popular sovereignty is needed after a mass uprising; through which a new state structure is built.
