Bangladesh wants immediate elections

Bangladeshis living in the United States have demanded immediate elections in their homeland. This information was obtained from the opinions of more than 150 expatriates representing various classes and professions who participated in a public opinion survey conducted by expatriate journalists in the United States from July 5 to 7. 

A survey conducted with the participation of expatriates from various locations, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Boston, Michigan, Chicago, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, California, and Texas, shows that more than 80 percent of expatriates think the law and order situation in the country is worrying. During the interim government, corruption, extortion, and encroachment continue as before. Although the fear of disappearances has decreased, murders are happening frequently in front of the police administration. Such a delicate situation has never arisen in the country's 54-year history. 

The expatriates have demanded immediate parliamentary elections to end this deteriorating law and order situation and have recommended that the elected government be entrusted with the responsibility of comprehensive reforms on the issues on which consensus has been reached. 55% of the expatriates said that Dr. Yunus and his government have shown extreme failure in fulfilling their promise to establish a state free of discrimination. The allegations against Sheikh Hasina, calling her a dictator, have increased several times during the tenure of Yunus' interim government. The expatriates have also commented that no one is at ease now except a few terrorists and political thugs. Leading expatriates have also mentioned that bribery, corruption, extortion, occupation and transfer trade have increased several times, far from decreasing.

The survey participants included Georgia State Senator (Democrat) Sheikh Rahman, Wall Street Journal international economics analyst-writer Professor Dr. Faizul Islam, University of New Orleans Emeritus Professor Dr. Mustafa Sarwar, International Association of Schools of Social Work Vice President Professor Golam Matbar, State University of New York Economics Professor Dr. Virupaksh Pal and former Chief Economist of Bangladesh Bank, Gias Ahmed, a member of the BNP Central Executive Committee living in New York, community leader Kazi Ashraf Hossain Nayan, Bangladeshi-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Atiqur Rahman and FOBANA Executive Secretary Rahim Nihal, construction businessman and organizer Md. Abdul Quader Mia, social worker, Engineer Md. Fazlul Haque, businesswoman and housewife Nasima Banu, among others. The common expatriate population included shopkeepers, taxi drivers, restaurant owners, grocery store owners, students, housewives, actors, actresses, cultural workers, writers, poets, federal employees, and community organizers.