Political parties active through the student-mass uprising instantly welcome the much-envisaged election schedule, saying that the people will be able to exercise their franchise after the end of a decade-and-a-half-long "fascist regime".
BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir describes the just-announced schedule for the 13th national parliamentary election as a new chapter in Bangladesh's politics.
He says the announcement of the schedule shows that Bangladesh has begun moving toward the democracy it has long desired.
"For more than one and a half decades, the people of this country have fought and sacrificed their lives to achieve this democratic transition."
He made these remarks in his reaction after the election schedule was rolled out Thursday, with 12th February as the date for twin-voting to elect parliament and adopt constitutional reforms through referendum.
Mirza Fakhrul has expressed the hope that all pro-democracy political parties will take part in the upcoming polls.
He expects that the voting will be held in a peaceful environment and the election will be neutral and acceptable.
In response to a question, the BNP leader said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) never had any fear regarding the election.
"The BNP has always said that elections are the only way to overcome political crises. Since the journey on that path has formally begun with the announcement of the schedule, the BNP welcomes it."
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami also welcomes the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and the referendum by the Election Commission (EC).
Responding immediately after the announcement of the schedule party's assistant secretary- general advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair said, "Today is a very important day. After a long wait, the election schedule has been announced. We welcome this announcement. With the announcement of the schedule, any uncertainty regarding the national parliamentary election will be removed."
Speaking at the Jamaat-e-Islami's central office in Dhaka, he also said, "Now the Commission has to perform various important duties to ensure a fair election. Creating a level playing field, recovering illegal weapons, and making the election meaningful -- the Election Commission must perform its duties with utmost importance.
"We do not expect any weakness in this regard. We expect that to ensure a fair and acceptable, a level playing field will be ensured."
Meanwhile, the National Citizens Party (NCP) has also welcomed the national election schedule. Chief coordinator of the newborn party Nasiruddin Patwary welcomed the announcement in his immediate reaction at the party office.
He also thanks the Election Commission for the schedule rollout.
However, he raises questions about the neutrality and capacity of the government and the Election Commission in organising a fair election.
"Today we thank and welcome the government and the Election Commission. They have announced the election schedule. Bangladesh is going to witness a beautiful election on February 12. We would like to say one thing: the government and the Election Commission have goodwill regarding the election, but they lack neutrality and capacity," says the NCP chief coordinator,
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