F R Chowdhury in London
For quite some time now, the opposition has been demanding that the next general election to be held under an impartial nonparty care-taker government CTG). The reason for such demand is obvious in view of the AL government’s activities.
In a democratic society it appears ridiculous to go for election under an unelected government. But situation in Bangladesh is different.
Here once in power the ruling party wants to perpetuate it. It is not because they desire to serve the nation and its people for a longer period but because they get so used to power that they cannot live without it. Another reason is that they become so corrupt that they are afraid of facing the public and legal actions when out of power. While in power, they totally control the country, the judiciary and the administration. The truth and all evidence of their misrule and corruption come out in the open as soon as they are out of power.
Back in 1996 the BAL (then in opposition) apprehended manipulation of the civil administration by the then BNP government to get the election results in their favour. The BAL immediately resorted to violent all-out movement on the streets and forced the BNP government to agree to a non-party impartial care-taker government to conduct the general election under its control and supervision. The result was a BAL victory but it was voted out in 2001 putting BNP in power by the CTG. However, after a brief period of emergency rule in 2007, BAL won the election again by more than 2/3 majority under the same system. This concept of CTG to hold elections suited the Bangladesh culture and worked well.
Concept of BKSAL
Having the God given blessings of over 2/3 majority in the parliament, the BAL government could virtually do everything good for the country without any opposition. Instead they removed the provision of CTG from the constitution. Apparently, the idea was to win all future elections under their own rule so that they can remain in power for extended period. This reminds one of the one-party rule introduced by her father Sheikh Mujib creating BKSAL, concentrating all powers in his hands with no opposition. The purpose this time appears identical but methodology different.
After amending the Constitution, Sheikh Hasina seemingly felt relieved that she can’t be dislodged from power. Then her mission of vengeance surfaced. Almost all those connected with her father’s killing were hanged. She treated an armed rebellion as a political issue and carried out negotiations with the so-called leaders of the rebellion and declared amnesty. In the process the country lost more officers than what it lost during the war of liberation. She then began war criminals trial only because the Jamat-e-Islami withdrew its support from the BAL led coalition. She believes that Bangladesh belonged to her family and her party. She was very angry as to why Professor Yunus was awarded Nobel Prize instead of her or her father.
The government disgraced the nation with Padma Bridge Project scam and the World Bank withdrew funding for alleged corruption. This happened after the PM refused to take action against one minister charged with corruption. Another minister whose APS was caught with car full of money has been made minister without portfolio. Editor Mahmudur Rahman and human rights activist Adilur Rahman are in jail because they dared to publish some unpalatable news items. Journalist Sagar and Runi had to give their lives because they knew too much about the government’s alleged corruption. BNP leader Ilyas Ali had to disappear because he knew about government’s plan to get rid of vocal opposition leaders.
Controlled judiciary
The judiciary in Bangladesh is now totally under government control. Many stories about their activities have been published in various papers. Efficient officers who do not belong to BAL school of politics have been made OSDs, and many of them retired. Those with connections in the BAL and BCL are supposed to have “mukti judher chetona” and are eligible for promotion. At this moment there are reportedly 1316 deputy secretaries against 830 posts; 1013 joint secretaries against 250 posts and 239 additional secretaries against 120 posts. The prime minister is ready to recruit and promote more to ensure that there will be no other civil servant left at any level to render support to Election Commission for conduct of election. This damage is certainly beyond repair.
The situation is even worse with police administration. Every key position is held by BAL or BCL cadres. The civil administration with active support of the police will create the most undesired and unethical stranglehold at every level to manipulate the results in favour of BAL. The elections will be meaningless. Democracy will have its natural death.
The prime minister is continuing her unfair war on all fronts. She is keeping Ershad in suspense by threatening to revive corruption cases against him. She is threatening to take action against Professor Yunus only because he spoke in support of the care-taker government. The BAL leaders are talking about a bill to make provision for jail for leader of any party that calls for “hartal”. However, nothing is likely to work out and when the time comes, they will have to pay for their misdeeds.
fazlu.chowdhury@\btinternet.com
