Does BNP council raise any hope for the nation?
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Md. Masum Billah
The fifth national council of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ended with a 19-point programme. The chairperson who was elected unopposed for the third time promised to strengthen the country's democratic institutions, curb corruption, criminal activities and injustice. She urged the grassroots' level leaders to implement the programmes by shunning the path of injustice, wrongdoings, greed and corruption. "We have come out of disasters with new dreams to build Bangladesh and make people happy. We will together implement the dreams. The party will have to be made capable of materialising those dreams," she said.
Twenty thousand grassroot-level leaders, councilors and delegates gathered at the BNP council venue. The council was held after a pretty long gap. Leaders of different political parties including partners of the four-party alliance and ruling Awami League (AL) attended the inaugural session and gave goodwill address. We appreciate this that the ruling party representative came to the council and delivered such an address. When such kinds of development take place in our political sky, we become highly optimistic as we are yet in a stage of nascent democracy. Representatives from the political parties of countries like the UK, Canada, Sri Lanka, China and Pakistan attended the council. They also delivered the goodwill messages wishing the success of the council. The council endorsed the election of party chairperson and raised the strength of party's apex body to 19 from 15.
The council also endorsed the amendments to the party constitution. The number of members of the party committee at union, upazila and district levels was also expanded from 31 to 51, 51 to 71 and 71 to 101. Those who will face expulsion from the party will get the opportunity of self-defense. This will demonstrate a democratic culture. The participants in the BNP council promised to help promote national development by turning the population into manpower, ensuring people's basic needs and taking measures to expand the science, technology and ICT sector to make Bangladesh fit for the 21st century. Analysts say the programmes aim at making the party more pro-people and restore people's support, keeping in mind the next general elections.
This is the positive strength and good side of democracy, at least, in words, if not in practice. The party in power continues doing and committing whatever they think will give benefit to the party and their party men. They become blind to the faults and vices of the party men and sometimes show a devoid of sense. The fabric of democracy encourages the opposition to closely observe those misdeeds of the government and keep record of all those, though they promise to do the just the opposite when they will be in the opposition. As soon as they assume power, they forget many things and many promises, actually many things really become almost impossible for them to change due to resource constraints of the country. Before coming to power they become obsessed with the criticisms of the government and continue promising the people impossible things as well. Let us make a real bridge between promise and implementation because the people are more aware of their political rights.
Some points about the BNP council still raise questions regarding a true democratic culture. The BNP Chairman, once elected, cannot be removed anymore as the provision for such removal was deleted from the party's constitution. Party constitution says the senior vice-chairman (VC) will assist the party chief in discharging his/her duties and will perform any responsibility assigned to him by the party chief.
The senior VC will be the acting party chairman during the temporary absence of the party chief. If the post of the chairman falls vacant on any ground, the senior vice-chairman will fill the vacuum and discharge the responsibilities of the chairman for the rest of the tenure. Another new provision empowers the BNP chairman to appoint special assistants if necessary to assist him/her to run party activities.
The party chairman himself/herself will specify the number of such special assistants. The tenure of the national executive body has been extended to three years from two years and it will continue functioning until a new committee assumes charge after election. Regarding taking disciplinary action against party members, the individual concerned can file an appeal with the chairman against the decision; the party chief will make final decision. It is known to us that on September 3, 2007, the BNP chairman expelled the then Secretary General, Abdul Mannan Bhuyian and Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain who moved to bring about reform in the party to ensure democracy within it. Their reform proposals were also aimed at excluding Begum Khaleda Zia who has been holding post the since 1983.
The BNP conceded a massive defeat in December 29 parliamentary election, mainly because of misrule and unbridled corruption during its 2001-2006 tenure. It has now come up with its future programmes to rejuvenate the party and its organisation at the grassroots. The leader of the opposition Begum Khaleda Zia asked the government to work to implement its elections manifesto, stating that the party would extend constructive cooperation for this. Let the opposition talk for the people and stay away from brining false allegations against it. It should discuss any issue related to people and the country in parliament, before making any decision.
Meanwhile, the government's go-alone policy on holding trial of the killing of army officers, demarcation of maritime boundary, Tipaimukhi Dam issue, Asian Highway and withdrawal of army camps from the Chittagong Hill Tracts has raised some suspicion among the people of about its sincerity. People are saying that the government has not been able to bring about changes, rather it has increased their sufferings. Khaleda Zia termed, 9/11 as a guerrilla attack in the USA. "It hit America in the heart. Similarly the conspirators of 1/11 hit Bangladesh in the heart", she noted.
Tarique Rahman in this recorded speech said at the BNP council session: "My future decision will depend on my health condition and the overall situation in the country." He complained that the immediate past caretaker regime inflicted brutal torture upon him, ignoring civility, humanity and the law.
"Mistakes might have been made while I was carrying out my duties, but I never knowingly did any injustice to anyone. I don know why I was punished without committing any crime. I don know why a massive propaganda was carried out against me at home and abroad", he stated in an emotion-chocked voice while adding, "They wanted to kill me but I am still alive due to your love, the prayers of the country people, and the honest deeds of my parents. I was asked to leave the country after the state of emergency was declared but I did not escape. That is why is I was arrested on false charges and was physically tortured.
Tarique Rahman was, no doubt, tortured. That definitely goes beyond the norms of an enlightened political culture. It was, however, the deed of the politicians that made the way for the undemocratic government to occupy state power. It has been a period of great learning for all the people related to politics. Days always do not go the same. This lesson hardly is followed by the party in position. The brutal game played by the so-called law enforcing agencies with Tarique definitely deserves investigation. Again, all concerned should desist themselves from taking recourse to any kind of exaggeration.
The money laundering complaint, raised against Tarique, seems to be abnormal. It is alleged that several crores of takas were laundered by Tarique which is actually beyond the capacity of our whole economy to deal with.
Such kinds of exaggeration, just on political grounds, bring abnormality for all. What actually angered the people most was the sudden appearance of Tarique in politics and his way of visiting the country like a popular leader from one end to the other.
The question arises here: Where did that money come from? People and critics have ample reasons to express doubts here about the honesty. This is not justifiable on the part of the politicians. They cannot sense the negative impact of such kinds of doubtful actions.
Whatever the leader of the opposition said, the nation cannot accept the lame excuse of the opposition to attend the parliament. Somebody must break the ice. No opposition in the country has joined the parliament for many years. It has become an evil tradition of our democracy. As soon as a political party assume power, it preaches the opposition to come to the parliament to cooperate with the government. As they, functionaries of the ruling party to-day, did the same thing, such preaching, request, pressure and sermons have not succeeded in exerting any influence on the opposition. This tradition must be stopped, once and for all.
When the opposition remains away from the parliament, how can the people expect that today's opposition will be in the parliament when, if they get the people's support to be on the treasury bench, again? This hardly happens.
Holding regular council is a matter of democratic rules and norms. When a party does not exercise democracy within it, how can it claim to nurture democracy in the country? Our big parties have started exercising democratic norms in their parties, showing the way for bigger democracy in the country. Let us hope that there would be better days for the nation.
(The writer is Senior Manager: BRAC Education Programme, PACE. He may be reached at e-mail: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com)
The fifth national council of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ended with a 19-point programme. The chairperson who was elected unopposed for the third time promised to strengthen the country's democratic institutions, curb corruption, criminal activities and injustice. She urged the grassroots' level leaders to implement the programmes by shunning the path of injustice, wrongdoings, greed and corruption. "We have come out of disasters with new dreams to build Bangladesh and make people happy. We will together implement the dreams. The party will have to be made capable of materialising those dreams," she said.
Twenty thousand grassroot-level leaders, councilors and delegates gathered at the BNP council venue. The council was held after a pretty long gap. Leaders of different political parties including partners of the four-party alliance and ruling Awami League (AL) attended the inaugural session and gave goodwill address. We appreciate this that the ruling party representative came to the council and delivered such an address. When such kinds of development take place in our political sky, we become highly optimistic as we are yet in a stage of nascent democracy. Representatives from the political parties of countries like the UK, Canada, Sri Lanka, China and Pakistan attended the council. They also delivered the goodwill messages wishing the success of the council. The council endorsed the election of party chairperson and raised the strength of party's apex body to 19 from 15.
The council also endorsed the amendments to the party constitution. The number of members of the party committee at union, upazila and district levels was also expanded from 31 to 51, 51 to 71 and 71 to 101. Those who will face expulsion from the party will get the opportunity of self-defense. This will demonstrate a democratic culture. The participants in the BNP council promised to help promote national development by turning the population into manpower, ensuring people's basic needs and taking measures to expand the science, technology and ICT sector to make Bangladesh fit for the 21st century. Analysts say the programmes aim at making the party more pro-people and restore people's support, keeping in mind the next general elections.
This is the positive strength and good side of democracy, at least, in words, if not in practice. The party in power continues doing and committing whatever they think will give benefit to the party and their party men. They become blind to the faults and vices of the party men and sometimes show a devoid of sense. The fabric of democracy encourages the opposition to closely observe those misdeeds of the government and keep record of all those, though they promise to do the just the opposite when they will be in the opposition. As soon as they assume power, they forget many things and many promises, actually many things really become almost impossible for them to change due to resource constraints of the country. Before coming to power they become obsessed with the criticisms of the government and continue promising the people impossible things as well. Let us make a real bridge between promise and implementation because the people are more aware of their political rights.
Some points about the BNP council still raise questions regarding a true democratic culture. The BNP Chairman, once elected, cannot be removed anymore as the provision for such removal was deleted from the party's constitution. Party constitution says the senior vice-chairman (VC) will assist the party chief in discharging his/her duties and will perform any responsibility assigned to him by the party chief.
The senior VC will be the acting party chairman during the temporary absence of the party chief. If the post of the chairman falls vacant on any ground, the senior vice-chairman will fill the vacuum and discharge the responsibilities of the chairman for the rest of the tenure. Another new provision empowers the BNP chairman to appoint special assistants if necessary to assist him/her to run party activities.
The party chairman himself/herself will specify the number of such special assistants. The tenure of the national executive body has been extended to three years from two years and it will continue functioning until a new committee assumes charge after election. Regarding taking disciplinary action against party members, the individual concerned can file an appeal with the chairman against the decision; the party chief will make final decision. It is known to us that on September 3, 2007, the BNP chairman expelled the then Secretary General, Abdul Mannan Bhuyian and Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain who moved to bring about reform in the party to ensure democracy within it. Their reform proposals were also aimed at excluding Begum Khaleda Zia who has been holding post the since 1983.
The BNP conceded a massive defeat in December 29 parliamentary election, mainly because of misrule and unbridled corruption during its 2001-2006 tenure. It has now come up with its future programmes to rejuvenate the party and its organisation at the grassroots. The leader of the opposition Begum Khaleda Zia asked the government to work to implement its elections manifesto, stating that the party would extend constructive cooperation for this. Let the opposition talk for the people and stay away from brining false allegations against it. It should discuss any issue related to people and the country in parliament, before making any decision.
Meanwhile, the government's go-alone policy on holding trial of the killing of army officers, demarcation of maritime boundary, Tipaimukhi Dam issue, Asian Highway and withdrawal of army camps from the Chittagong Hill Tracts has raised some suspicion among the people of about its sincerity. People are saying that the government has not been able to bring about changes, rather it has increased their sufferings. Khaleda Zia termed, 9/11 as a guerrilla attack in the USA. "It hit America in the heart. Similarly the conspirators of 1/11 hit Bangladesh in the heart", she noted.
Tarique Rahman in this recorded speech said at the BNP council session: "My future decision will depend on my health condition and the overall situation in the country." He complained that the immediate past caretaker regime inflicted brutal torture upon him, ignoring civility, humanity and the law.
"Mistakes might have been made while I was carrying out my duties, but I never knowingly did any injustice to anyone. I don know why I was punished without committing any crime. I don know why a massive propaganda was carried out against me at home and abroad", he stated in an emotion-chocked voice while adding, "They wanted to kill me but I am still alive due to your love, the prayers of the country people, and the honest deeds of my parents. I was asked to leave the country after the state of emergency was declared but I did not escape. That is why is I was arrested on false charges and was physically tortured.
Tarique Rahman was, no doubt, tortured. That definitely goes beyond the norms of an enlightened political culture. It was, however, the deed of the politicians that made the way for the undemocratic government to occupy state power. It has been a period of great learning for all the people related to politics. Days always do not go the same. This lesson hardly is followed by the party in position. The brutal game played by the so-called law enforcing agencies with Tarique definitely deserves investigation. Again, all concerned should desist themselves from taking recourse to any kind of exaggeration.
The money laundering complaint, raised against Tarique, seems to be abnormal. It is alleged that several crores of takas were laundered by Tarique which is actually beyond the capacity of our whole economy to deal with.
Such kinds of exaggeration, just on political grounds, bring abnormality for all. What actually angered the people most was the sudden appearance of Tarique in politics and his way of visiting the country like a popular leader from one end to the other.
The question arises here: Where did that money come from? People and critics have ample reasons to express doubts here about the honesty. This is not justifiable on the part of the politicians. They cannot sense the negative impact of such kinds of doubtful actions.
Whatever the leader of the opposition said, the nation cannot accept the lame excuse of the opposition to attend the parliament. Somebody must break the ice. No opposition in the country has joined the parliament for many years. It has become an evil tradition of our democracy. As soon as a political party assume power, it preaches the opposition to come to the parliament to cooperate with the government. As they, functionaries of the ruling party to-day, did the same thing, such preaching, request, pressure and sermons have not succeeded in exerting any influence on the opposition. This tradition must be stopped, once and for all.
When the opposition remains away from the parliament, how can the people expect that today's opposition will be in the parliament when, if they get the people's support to be on the treasury bench, again? This hardly happens.
Holding regular council is a matter of democratic rules and norms. When a party does not exercise democracy within it, how can it claim to nurture democracy in the country? Our big parties have started exercising democratic norms in their parties, showing the way for bigger democracy in the country. Let us hope that there would be better days for the nation.
(The writer is Senior Manager: BRAC Education Programme, PACE. He may be reached at e-mail: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com)