An election participated by one party or one alliance would neither carry any meaning nor it would be acceptable to the international community, they told The Daily Star in their reaction to the alliance's poll boycott announced yesterday.

They suggested that the rival political alliances should hold dialogues and find out a solution to uphold the constitution and maintain peace in the country.

FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain expressed concern over the recent political developments. "The politics would turn more unstable with this boycott of election by a major political alliance and the economy would be the worst victim of it," he told The Daily Star over phone from Canada.

The FBCCI president pointed out that the election would not be meaningful without participation of all parties, who are mainly divided into two camps. "We are requesting the political parties to make their last efforts to hold a free and fair election in the country for maintaining peace."

Terming the grand alliance's decision as "logical," eminent scholar Prof Anisuzzaman said "There is no justification for participating in a 'farcical' election'."

The caretaker government did not take enough initiatives to create a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election in the country, he said adding that the partisan officials are still in the Election Commission (EC) and the voter list is yet to be corrected properly. The situation would not have deteriorated so much if President Iajuddin Ahmed had accepted the demands of the grand alliance, he further observed.

On the question of 90 days provision in the constitution, Anisuzzaman put emphasis on all political parties' reaching a consensus in this regard. Referring to the situation after the fall of Ershad regime in 1990, he said that the constitution could be maintained through the judgement of the Supreme Court.

In her reaction, National Prof Sufia Ahmed termed the situation 'very critical' and 'uncertain'. "I am confused as everything is happening unexpectedly, nothing is going normal".

Brig Gen (retd) Shakhawat Hossain said, "The crisis won't be solved if the election is held with the participation of one alliance."

He also feared breaking out of violence during and after the polls. The economic activities and day-to-day life would be disrupted and the country would plunge into an uncertain situation if the violent situation continues, he added.

The grand alliance's boycott of polls is only applicable for the January 22 election, Shakhawat said observing that they did not rule out the possibility of contesting the polls in future.

In this situation, the president, also the CA, has to decide what steps to take, Shakhawat said explaining that there are three options. "He (president) could plan for a dialogue among the political parties, refer the matter to the court to extend electoral time or proclaim a state of emergency in the country."

Maj Gen (Rtd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim termed the boycott as a "delayed decision." The grand alliance should have taken this decision much earlier as their two major demands -- correction of the faulty voter list and resignation of President Iajuddin Ahmed from the post of chief adviser (CA) -- were not realised, he added.

The voter roll could not be updated and published for public view in time because the EC and the immediate past government did not want it, he alleged adding that it was expected that the caretaker government would persuade the EC to carry out the corrections properly, but to no avail.

"I strongly believe that an accurate voters list can be prepared within 30 to 40 days time should all the resources of the government or the nation be used sincerely. I even recommend that the organisational strength and huge trained manpower of the military be made available to the EC to assist in preparing the voter list, without which election is going to be farcical," he added.

Ibrahim also observed that an election participated by one party or one alliance will be like that of the election of February, 1996, in which case, it is bound to be unacceptable to the world.

On the role of President Iajuddin he said," I strongly believe that he (president) has not followed the provision of the constitution sincerely and with visible credibility before assuming the post of the CA."

On the question of violation of the constitution, if the election is not held within 90 days of the caretaker government's taking power, Ibrahim said that if all major political parties agree on holding a credible and acceptable election, then it will be possible to defer the election date.

In his reaction, former adviser to a caretaker government Maj Gen Moynul Hossain Chowdhury said that the people are disappointed at this decision of boycott as they were looking forward to have a general election. "We are again heading towards uncertainty which is not good for the country's image, economy and development," he said.

Prof Sadrul Amin, president of Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA), sees the grand alliance decision as a way of wasting more time. "We have realised earlier that the AL led alliance would not participate in the election."

The people are fed up with the long agitation and political violence by the AL, he added.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Zahid Hossain termed the election boycott as a 'misfortune' for the nation. "We expect more 'responsible' move from a party like AL."

As the whole nation is looking towards the election, it election would be held even after withdrawal of nomination by the grand alliance, he observed.

There is still time to resolve the crisis and the political parties should initiate a dialogue immediately for evolving a way out, Zahid suggested.

In his reaction, eminent writer Prof Hasan Azizul Haque observed that there was no other way for the grand alliance but to boycott the election, as a free and fair election was impossible under such a biased caretaker government.

Replying to a question, Prof Haque said, "Constitution is not the Bible or the Qur'an, it already had amendments. So why it would matter if it carries any more amendments?"

He also said that all parties should think over the demands of people and take initiative to find a way out to save the democracy.

Rajshahi University (RU) Progressive Teachers' Association President Prof Abdus Sobhan said that he found the grand alliance's decision as a 'solace from anxiety' over a 'deep rooted conspiracy'.

"The chief adviser and BNP-Jamaat leaders have now become active to 'protect' the constitution for serving their own interests. They should value others' opinions too," he added.

Popular writer Humayun Ahmed in his reaction said that he finds the situation in the country very confusing. "The Awami League's signing of an agreement with the anti-liberation forces also made me confused," he added.

Ahmed, however, hopes that the situation will improve very soon. "I am an optimistic person and I have left everything on Almighty Allah."

Noted academic and writer Prof Zafar Iqbal said that the polls must be participated by all major political parties. "An election with the boycott of grand alliance will have no importance."

Meanwhile, BGMEA President S M Fazlul Hoque declined to make any comments at this stage, saying that he wants to observe the situation further.