Absolute power of executive creates scope for abuse: TIB

Absolute power of the executive organ of Bangladesh creates a scope for power abuse and prompts executive decisions on a partisan basis, according to a study of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), reports UNB.
The study reveals that the Prime Minister being the exclusive depository of absolute power exercises authority over the executive branch of the government. Critics labelled it as 'Prime Ministerial authoritarianism', it said.
The study report on 'National Integrity System Assessment: Bangladesh', was released at a press conference at the BRAC Center in the capital Wednesday.
The co-authors of the report, Prof Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman of Dhaka University and TIB deputy executive director Prof Sumaiya Khair, jointly disclosed the study findings.
TIB chairperson Sultana Kamal and executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman also spoke at the press conference.
The study says division of power amongst the legislative, judiciary and executive branches of the government has largely been 'uneven' and 'dominated' by the Prime Minister. There is no provision requiring disclosure of assets by the head of the state or government, cabinet members and MPs.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the power of the head of the executive must be decentralised to make the state pillars effective. "Some changes should be brought in the structure of the constitution and the rules of business in this regard."
About the integrity of judiciary, the study says that the issue of independence of the judiciary has received negligible recognition in political rhetoric, and despite formal separation of the judiciary from the executive, it has not met the people's expectation of a truly independent institution since the 'subordinate courts continued to be influenced by the executive'.