EIU hopes CG to transfer power to elected govt after JS polls

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The London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has said the caretaker government (CG) in Bangladesh is expected to hand over power to a new elected government shortly after the parliamentary election, reports UNB.
The EIU in its monthly report said, however, the caretaker government and the Election Commission (EC) need to overcome a number of obstacles in the weeks ahead to ensure that the poll is free, fair and credible.
It said the election would be regarded as free, if all political parties are able to participate.
The recent decision by the caretaker government to grant bail to a number of important politicians, arrested as a result of its anti-corruption drive, has helped to fulfil its promise of a free poll.
More importantly, the EIU said, Khaleda Zia of BNP and Sheikh Hasina of Awami League, who are both under investigation for corruption, are now in a position to participate. As neither of them has yet been convicted, they can contest from their seats, and one of them can become the next prime minister.
The report said Khaleda and Hasina remain hugely popular figures, but the success of the AL at the elections for city corporations and municipalities in August suggests that it is in a favourable position to win.
The election would be deemed fair if voters are allowed to exercise their democratic rights. There remains uncertainty, however, over whether this condition can be met.
The report said severe restrictions have been placed on civil liberties since emergency rule was imposed on January 11, 2007.
Concerns over a possible deterioration in the security situation in the run-up to the poll are likely to prevent a complete lifting of emergency rule, although the government may relax certain restrictions ahead of and during the election.
But political parties will continue to make the full lifting of the state of emergency a primary condition of their participation in the election.
It also said maintaining emergency rule may jeopardise the credibility of the poll, especially if the European Commission decides not to send a delegation to observe the vote.
The election's integrity could be undermined further if the main political parties decide not to participate, although, given the conciliatory stance adopted by the EC in recent weeks and its ongoing efforts to engage the parties in dialogue, this seems unlikely.