Gathering storm on the political horizon
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Enayet Rasul Bhuiyan
The immediate past caretaker government, if not for anything else, needs to be credited singularly for at least accomplishing a major objective which was holding of a free and fair polls and handing over power to an elected government. This polling was the issue of the greatest contention and source of great strife that was tearing apart normal life and living in the country prior to the takeover by the caretaker government. One of the two sides in the political divide of Bangladesh was completely disagreeable and for the right reasons to holding elections under the then prevailing set up. The success of the caretakers was getting all sides to agree to participation in national election under it after drawing up of a nearly flawless voters' list to which nobody had any big objection.
The nation went to the polls under this voters' list and the electioneering was presided over by the caretaker authorities with fairness and impartiality. No great untoward incidents happened during the elections either to make its credibility questionable. Foreign and local observers without an exception described the election as totally free and fair. Even the vanquished Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was seen accepting the poll results generally in good grace except for some murmurings by some of its leaders about unfair activities. But the BNP did not reject the election results and its elected members of parliament duly took oath as the opposition and attended the new parliament's inaugural session that gave the present ruling alliance members 'legitimacy' to form the government and run the country for the next five years or till the holding of the next general elections.
Not even a year but some ten months only have passed since the taking over charge by the elected government. But already suggestions are being made by some top leaders of the main opposition party that the incumbents in power have lost their rights to go on governing the country and that they should submit themselves to another election. There is the practice of mid-term polls in democracies. But such a poll is held at least after completing half of its term by an elected government. Either the government in power declares the holding of such polls or the opposition forces may put pressure on the government for the same on grounds of very serious mal governance. The opposition pressing for such polls is expected to justify its demand only on real grounds for wanting such polls that has support from the people in general. At any rate, the asking for a repolling only ten months after a national election and formation of government is perhaps without a parallel in the history of contemporary democracies. After all, nothing so grossly abnormal was done by the ones in power today in Bangladesh or people's hardships have not increased so unbearably under the present government which were not there in the past, to justify the demand for such early election.
Surely there are reasons for the opposition to be unhappy with the government and the ruling party. The government has been guilty of high handed activities in some areas and for unconcern in addressing basic problems of people. But such things were noted also under past elected governments and also under the caretaker government which was duly expected to be clinically correct in its activities for being composed of individuals of technocratic or expert backgrounds having also integrity of character. Such accusations did not stand in the way of smooth completion of their tenures. So, why this elected government is being exceptionally targeted with scorn and demands piling upon it for its exit so early in the day ?
From the way things are developing, it could be only a matter of weeks or months before the opposition takes to the street in full fury. Thus, it could well be a hot winter in Bangladesh in the political sense. The opposition's initial stance of avoidance of parliament's session has now hardened into unchanging boycott of parliament. First, the opposition's angst was for not honouring it by granting it more than the number of seats it can legally claim in the front row in the parliament's chamber. But the demands to be fulfilled for their returning to parliament have grown longer such as repeal of corruption cases against the former Prime Minister and her two sons. Other demands have been also added. Government may find it difficult to accept some of these demands such as the withdrawl of corruption cases and cases of siphoning off money abroad by Khaleda Zia's two sons because there is probably countrywide great aspiration that such activities perpetrated by bigwigs of all past governments, should be duly investigated and the ones found guilty should be appropriately punished.
Whatever the government's reaction to these demands and the same are likely to be unyielding , the same would clear the deck for riotous actions perhaps by the opposition. But the big question is : will the start of a fresh spell of politically induced violence and agitation and its fallouts be favourable for the country in any way ? The answers should be obvious. The elections were held spending vast amounts of the resources of this country. Any repeat election in the near future when no proper justification for it exists, would only mean mindless squandering of public resources that can be put to better uses. The last election results that established a duly elected government above any major objection to it, was only expected to usher in a period of political stability at least for the greater part of the tenure of the incumbent government. Indeed, donor agencies and foreign governments expressed their minds with relief that the post-election period would create lasting political calm and stability in this country which then would translate into stepped up investments by both foreign and local investors here from sensing this stability. But this expectation is likely to sour in the coming days as once again political instability will start posing as a formidable disincentive for investments.
The immediate past caretaker government, if not for anything else, needs to be credited singularly for at least accomplishing a major objective which was holding of a free and fair polls and handing over power to an elected government. This polling was the issue of the greatest contention and source of great strife that was tearing apart normal life and living in the country prior to the takeover by the caretaker government. One of the two sides in the political divide of Bangladesh was completely disagreeable and for the right reasons to holding elections under the then prevailing set up. The success of the caretakers was getting all sides to agree to participation in national election under it after drawing up of a nearly flawless voters' list to which nobody had any big objection.
The nation went to the polls under this voters' list and the electioneering was presided over by the caretaker authorities with fairness and impartiality. No great untoward incidents happened during the elections either to make its credibility questionable. Foreign and local observers without an exception described the election as totally free and fair. Even the vanquished Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was seen accepting the poll results generally in good grace except for some murmurings by some of its leaders about unfair activities. But the BNP did not reject the election results and its elected members of parliament duly took oath as the opposition and attended the new parliament's inaugural session that gave the present ruling alliance members 'legitimacy' to form the government and run the country for the next five years or till the holding of the next general elections.
Not even a year but some ten months only have passed since the taking over charge by the elected government. But already suggestions are being made by some top leaders of the main opposition party that the incumbents in power have lost their rights to go on governing the country and that they should submit themselves to another election. There is the practice of mid-term polls in democracies. But such a poll is held at least after completing half of its term by an elected government. Either the government in power declares the holding of such polls or the opposition forces may put pressure on the government for the same on grounds of very serious mal governance. The opposition pressing for such polls is expected to justify its demand only on real grounds for wanting such polls that has support from the people in general. At any rate, the asking for a repolling only ten months after a national election and formation of government is perhaps without a parallel in the history of contemporary democracies. After all, nothing so grossly abnormal was done by the ones in power today in Bangladesh or people's hardships have not increased so unbearably under the present government which were not there in the past, to justify the demand for such early election.
Surely there are reasons for the opposition to be unhappy with the government and the ruling party. The government has been guilty of high handed activities in some areas and for unconcern in addressing basic problems of people. But such things were noted also under past elected governments and also under the caretaker government which was duly expected to be clinically correct in its activities for being composed of individuals of technocratic or expert backgrounds having also integrity of character. Such accusations did not stand in the way of smooth completion of their tenures. So, why this elected government is being exceptionally targeted with scorn and demands piling upon it for its exit so early in the day ?
From the way things are developing, it could be only a matter of weeks or months before the opposition takes to the street in full fury. Thus, it could well be a hot winter in Bangladesh in the political sense. The opposition's initial stance of avoidance of parliament's session has now hardened into unchanging boycott of parliament. First, the opposition's angst was for not honouring it by granting it more than the number of seats it can legally claim in the front row in the parliament's chamber. But the demands to be fulfilled for their returning to parliament have grown longer such as repeal of corruption cases against the former Prime Minister and her two sons. Other demands have been also added. Government may find it difficult to accept some of these demands such as the withdrawl of corruption cases and cases of siphoning off money abroad by Khaleda Zia's two sons because there is probably countrywide great aspiration that such activities perpetrated by bigwigs of all past governments, should be duly investigated and the ones found guilty should be appropriately punished.
Whatever the government's reaction to these demands and the same are likely to be unyielding , the same would clear the deck for riotous actions perhaps by the opposition. But the big question is : will the start of a fresh spell of politically induced violence and agitation and its fallouts be favourable for the country in any way ? The answers should be obvious. The elections were held spending vast amounts of the resources of this country. Any repeat election in the near future when no proper justification for it exists, would only mean mindless squandering of public resources that can be put to better uses. The last election results that established a duly elected government above any major objection to it, was only expected to usher in a period of political stability at least for the greater part of the tenure of the incumbent government. Indeed, donor agencies and foreign governments expressed their minds with relief that the post-election period would create lasting political calm and stability in this country which then would translate into stepped up investments by both foreign and local investors here from sensing this stability. But this expectation is likely to sour in the coming days as once again political instability will start posing as a formidable disincentive for investments.