Back to square one?
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Amirul Islam
THIS government which came to power with the pledge to combat corruption and reform the political system now looks 'long 0n promises, short on actions'. It is performing much below the expectations it had earlier raised.
Within months remaining it would be required to give up power. It is likely that it would leave without accomplishing any of its major stated goals after raising high the expectation of people.
Initially, this government seemed bent on engineering a political rebirth of Bangladesh. It wanted to reform the political parties. It would sought to force the political parties to accept fundamental changes in their organisation, by dumping their leaders. It said it wanted to do all this to strengthen the prospect of good governance. But some seventeen months down the road these hopes are not enthusing the people any more, to say the least. The political parties remain as they were. The government and the election commission, after trying vain to break the big parties, are now, as it looks, taking a different approach.
The politicians are getting relief from the court. The government no more wants to prevent them from participating in elections. From this trend one might assume that all allegedly corrupt elements will now contest and win the parliamentary elections. They will become MPs and ministers again possibly to quash the court cases against them.
To many, it means Bangladesh will be back to square one. The old political order will be fully restored after the parliamentary elections.
Most of the alleged offenders are coming out of prison and they would likely now use the powers of their money and influence to ensure easy sailing in the cases against them. Under the law, the accused are entitled to bail.
So, the people should not be accused of cynicism if they raise questions about the goals and purposes of this government, reviewing their tall talks and poor handling of the cases. Did the caretaker government rely more on force to overdo by ignoring the law and the rule of law?
THIS government which came to power with the pledge to combat corruption and reform the political system now looks 'long 0n promises, short on actions'. It is performing much below the expectations it had earlier raised.
Within months remaining it would be required to give up power. It is likely that it would leave without accomplishing any of its major stated goals after raising high the expectation of people.
Initially, this government seemed bent on engineering a political rebirth of Bangladesh. It wanted to reform the political parties. It would sought to force the political parties to accept fundamental changes in their organisation, by dumping their leaders. It said it wanted to do all this to strengthen the prospect of good governance. But some seventeen months down the road these hopes are not enthusing the people any more, to say the least. The political parties remain as they were. The government and the election commission, after trying vain to break the big parties, are now, as it looks, taking a different approach.
The politicians are getting relief from the court. The government no more wants to prevent them from participating in elections. From this trend one might assume that all allegedly corrupt elements will now contest and win the parliamentary elections. They will become MPs and ministers again possibly to quash the court cases against them.
To many, it means Bangladesh will be back to square one. The old political order will be fully restored after the parliamentary elections.
Most of the alleged offenders are coming out of prison and they would likely now use the powers of their money and influence to ensure easy sailing in the cases against them. Under the law, the accused are entitled to bail.
So, the people should not be accused of cynicism if they raise questions about the goals and purposes of this government, reviewing their tall talks and poor handling of the cases. Did the caretaker government rely more on force to overdo by ignoring the law and the rule of law?