Awami League’s Absence Would Undermine Election Credibility: Shahriar Nazim Joy

Khabor Wala Desk

Published: 20th August 2025, 11:15 AM

Awami League’s Absence Would Undermine Election Credibility: Shahriar Nazim Joy

Renowned actor and television presenter Shahriar Nazim Joy has once again used social media to express his views on pressing contemporary issues. This time, his commentary centred on the current political landscape of Bangladesh and the upcoming national elections.

On Wednesday, 20 August, through a post on his verified Facebook account, Joy presented his analysis, highlighting the perception of expatriates, foreign observers, and citizens regarding political parties and leadership in Bangladesh.

Observations by Shahriar Nazim Joy

Topic	Joy’s Observations
Awami League’s Role	Despite criticisms, Awami League commands support from a large section of the population. Excluding them from the election would question its credibility and further deepen political divisions.
Dr Muhammad Yunus	Foreign analysts appear to admire Dr Yunus and wish to see BNP in power. However, they do not want an election without Awami League.
NCP & Jamaat’s Position	Expatriates want NCP and Jamaat to have at least 100 seats in Parliament. Jamaat’s activities are being praised, yet confusion lingers about their stance during the Liberation War.
Law & Order	Expatriates are worried about law and order. They believe Dr Yunus’s government is struggling to control the situation as significant sections of the population do not support him.
Military’s Role	Opinions are divided; many admire NCP for frontline leadership during major events, while others strongly oppose them due to their rhetoric and behaviour.
BNP’s Situation	Top-level statements from BNP leaders have satisfied many, but the actions of grassroots workers have caused frustration. A gap remains between leadership policies and activists’ conduct.
Tarique Rahman’s Stance	While Tarique Rahman advocates for “neither revenge nor resistance,” grassroots BNP activists are allegedly preparing for both, in contradiction to high command policies.

Joy wrote that while expatriates and observers are optimistic about the political transition, they feel that an election without Awami League would lack legitimacy. He emphasised that BNP supporters’ behaviour contradicts the leadership’s declared policies, creating concerns about discipline and future governance.

Regarding Jamaat-e-Islami, Joy noted that many appreciate their political engagement, yet unresolved questions about their role in the 1971 Liberation War continue to fuel suspicion. On NCP, he highlighted a divided perception—admiration for their sacrifices and leadership on one side, and irritation with their rhetoric on the other.

He further warned that if grassroots BNP workers are already disregarding central directives before the election, then their actions in the event of an electoral victory could become a source of instability.

In his concluding remarks, Shahriar Nazim Joy humbly stated: “This analysis is purely my personal observation. I am neither a political expert nor an intellectual. As a citizen of Bangladesh, I have expressed my democratic right through these words. If my writing hurts anyone, I sincerely apologise. However, I hope that intelligent readers will extract the useful aspects of my analysis and apply them constructively.”

Shahriar Nazim Joy is not only known as a television host and actor, but also as a director. In the latest Eid-ul-Fitr season, he both acted in and directed the web series “Pap Kahini”. His co-actors included Runa Khan, Moushumi Mou, and Tanzia Mithila, among others.