Challenges before government
Monday, 6 August 2007
THE present caretaker government (CTG) has been over-tasked. Ever since its take-over in early January, a rising stream of public suggestions for amending all accumulated wrongs of the last 35 years expanded the list of its priorities. Now a major flood, approaching the heart of the country at Dhaka and its adjoining regions after devastating much of the other areas, has further extended it. The CTG faces challenging tasks. If it fails in effectively dealing with the urgent challenges of flood relief and subsequent post-flood rehabilitation, its basic important task of holding a fair and credible national parliamentary election in 2008 may be seriously jeopardised.
Flood, as stated earlier in this column mentioning about the disturbing a formation of the La Nin weather pattern in the Pacific that causes cyclones in the Atlantic region and excessive rains during the monsoon in Asia, is not unlikely to recur, even in more damaging form. The government has, meanwhile, stated that resources currently at its disposal are enough for relief efforts and subsequent rehabilitation of the affected and their shattered economic activities. It may not seek foreign help, although voluntary aid by donors and friendly countries would be received. The confidence thus shown in local capacity to deal with the previously unforeseen urgency is encouraging. But what would happen in the event of another or more floods in this exceptional rainy season? The government should go for a thorough assessment of the availability of local resources for responding to sudden needs for relief work in future as well. It should then decide whether to seek international help now to replenish its currently exhausting stock of relief materials including food grains for vulnerable feeding.
Too much of self-confidence about dealing with natural calamities in the pre-election period entails the risk of volatility in public mood, being whipped up by any future unforeseen government failure. The pressing issue of holding the election peacefully may slip into uncertainty in an atmosphere of charged with public emotion, which might be exploited optimally by those sitting on the fence waiting for an opportunity to add fuel to any sudden fire. The donors as a whole, who have so far enthusiastically displayed their keen interest in the unfolding arrangements for holding a fair and credible national parliamentary election in this country, may on their own examine what could be the possible adverse consequences of set-backs in relief and rehabilitation efforts. They should choose and execute their own plans in this regard.
The year 2007 and the subsequent period leading to the due general election are not the usual time. It would not permit critical things to be left to chances to take care of themselves. The present flood situation is one such thing that has potentials to undo many a scheme. The deluge has reportedly damaged 75 embankments so far across the country worsening the situation. The damage of those structures has practically sharpened its claws for inflicting more damage. If the protective shield of the government cannot be effectively extended to those who have been and may be seriously affected by the flood now and in immediate future, it may also damage much of the election plan. A unit of the defence forces alongside the local administration should be tasked in every affected upazila of the country so that the need for relief work in any flood-hit area does not go unnoticed and the affected receive worthwhile succour.
Flood, as stated earlier in this column mentioning about the disturbing a formation of the La Nin weather pattern in the Pacific that causes cyclones in the Atlantic region and excessive rains during the monsoon in Asia, is not unlikely to recur, even in more damaging form. The government has, meanwhile, stated that resources currently at its disposal are enough for relief efforts and subsequent rehabilitation of the affected and their shattered economic activities. It may not seek foreign help, although voluntary aid by donors and friendly countries would be received. The confidence thus shown in local capacity to deal with the previously unforeseen urgency is encouraging. But what would happen in the event of another or more floods in this exceptional rainy season? The government should go for a thorough assessment of the availability of local resources for responding to sudden needs for relief work in future as well. It should then decide whether to seek international help now to replenish its currently exhausting stock of relief materials including food grains for vulnerable feeding.
Too much of self-confidence about dealing with natural calamities in the pre-election period entails the risk of volatility in public mood, being whipped up by any future unforeseen government failure. The pressing issue of holding the election peacefully may slip into uncertainty in an atmosphere of charged with public emotion, which might be exploited optimally by those sitting on the fence waiting for an opportunity to add fuel to any sudden fire. The donors as a whole, who have so far enthusiastically displayed their keen interest in the unfolding arrangements for holding a fair and credible national parliamentary election in this country, may on their own examine what could be the possible adverse consequences of set-backs in relief and rehabilitation efforts. They should choose and execute their own plans in this regard.
The year 2007 and the subsequent period leading to the due general election are not the usual time. It would not permit critical things to be left to chances to take care of themselves. The present flood situation is one such thing that has potentials to undo many a scheme. The deluge has reportedly damaged 75 embankments so far across the country worsening the situation. The damage of those structures has practically sharpened its claws for inflicting more damage. If the protective shield of the government cannot be effectively extended to those who have been and may be seriously affected by the flood now and in immediate future, it may also damage much of the election plan. A unit of the defence forces alongside the local administration should be tasked in every affected upazila of the country so that the need for relief work in any flood-hit area does not go unnoticed and the affected receive worthwhile succour.