Bangladesh heading towards politics of confrontation

by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
June 3, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1488/bangladesh-heading-towards-politics

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has categorically said that none of the future elections in the country shall be held under caretaker government. The government came up with the decision following a verdict of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. Meanwhile, main opposition party in the country, Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP], Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a number of political parties and fronts have already rejected latest decision of the government. BNP has called from dawn-to-dusk countrywide general strike on June 6, 2011 protesting this decision. Spokesperson for the ruling party has already warned the opposition to refrain for any "destructive actions", which he said "would be handled with tough hands".

Members of Civil Society as well as think-tanks in Bangladesh are already seeing government decision as "serious threat to country's democracy". They said, with the growing distrust amongst the political parties in the country, election under any political government will only invite extreme chaotic situation.

Eminent jurist Barrister Rafiqul Huq told media that the full verdict of the Supreme Court on caretaker Government Issue is yet to be published. Until the verdict is published, it will be unwise for any political party to press forward hard line political programs such as general strike.

He said, the Supreme Court has declared the caretaker government system as illegal, as under such system, there is no real participation of the mass people of the country. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has also opined that, next two general elections may be held under caretaker government.

In brief, it is impossible to hold any election in Bangladesh without caretaker government system. If future election will be held under party in power, the main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party may not join it. And, of course, any election without the participation of main opposition will not gain any credibility in the eyes of people.

Former bureaucrat and member of civil society, Dr. Akber Ali Khan said, if the caretaker government will be cancelled forthwith, it will only push the country towards severe political confrontation. This can be easily resolved through political dialogue amongst the parties.

Political commentator Asafuddowlah said, none of the major players in Bangladeshi politics today are having any stability of ideology. Awami League [the ruling party] went into movement in 1996 demanding introduction of caretaker government system. Now they have taken opponent role on this issue.

He said, if the caretaker government system will become illegal following verdict of the Supreme Court, then all those government who government the country during 1996-2008 will become illegal. Even appointment of judges in the higher judiciary during this period will also stand null and void.

Asafuddowlah termed the recent move of the ruling party in Bangladesh in scrapping the caretaker government system as "worst example of democratic autocracy".

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said, in 1996 the ruling party called numerous general strikes and other demonstration programs to press the demand of keeping the caretaker government system in the constitution. Now Bangladesh Nationalist Party may step into the same path. Whatever gain or loss the ruling party may have from such hard-line political programs, it will surely increase sufferings of the people of Bangladesh.

He said, people of the country do not believe that neutral election can be held under political government in Bangladesh.

It may be mentioned here that, Bangladesh Awami League [the party in power now] called for massive agitation programs titled 'Logi Boitha' [rowing stick and bamboo sticks] in 2006, when a large number of people were beaten to death by the activists of the party. The situation turned so much vulnerable that a State of Emergency was declared in the country to safeguard the nation from an imminent civil war.

Since Bangladesh Awami League came in power in 2008, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party was rather pushed to the corner as the people were already angry with it for its massive corruption during 2001-2006. But, for the first time, now, the main opposition is going to get people's momentum towards its latest political agitation program, which will start from June 6, 2011. It is important to mention that, none of the political parties in Bangladesh are free from alleged charges of corruption, nepotism and numerous forms of wrong-doings.

On the other hand, since Bangladesh Awami League formed government in 2009 [January], the nation has been witnessing virtual reign of terror of the student wing of the ruling party. It has also contributed in severe deterioration of the law and order situation in the country, with extortion, rape, murder, repression of religious minorities etc.

Exorbitant rise in the prices of essentials have possibly crossed all previous records. And above all, the government has completely failed in addressing the acute power crisis in the country, although they already have crossed fifty percent of its duration of being in power. It may be mentioned here that, according to Bangladeshi constitution, political parties are elected to power for a period of five years.

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