Instant end to anarchic situation proves justification of 1/11
Sunday, 15 July 2007
The instant disappearance of protracted political conflicts and 'anarchic situation' justified the proclamation of emergency paving ways for installation of the reconstituted interim government, a leading jurist and political analyst said Saturday, reports BSS.
"The 1/11 was an inevitable or unavoidable incident of the national life, there was no alternative to it," former attorney general Hassan Arif told the news agency as the caretaker government (CG) of Fakhruddin Ahmed completed its six months last week.
He said the 1/11 proved its justification as "soon after the reconstituted government took over, the anarchic situation the country was faced with, disappeared instantly".
"This was inevitable and justified to prevent Bangladesh's journey towards uncertainty as the then government had virtually collapsed," Arif said.
"The developments at that time suggested that the proclamation of the emergency and reconstitution of the government was the only option . . . as the then government had virtually collapsed," he said.
Explaining the legal perspectives of the takeover, the former attorney general said the entire process of the reconstitution of the government was valid as any adviser, including the chief adviser of the CG, could resign according to the constitution as it happened on 1/11.
"The only thing was that the political parties could not be consulted ahead of the appointment of current chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, but all will agree it was an impossible situation to consult with the political parties at that time," he said.
On the length or duration of the present CG, Arif said according to the constitution, the election commission (EC) is obligated to stage polls within 90 days of period and "there is no specified timeframe for the CG" to remain in charge.
"There is no restriction in the constitution about the length of the CG," he said but added he believed that the 18-month timeframe as announced by the CA earlier was enough to complete "all required electoral reforms" to stage polls.
Foreign donors or development partners also in the past several months extended their supports to the non-party government's initiatives, particularly against crime and corruption.
"You have done a tremendous job (spearheading anti-graft campaign) but stay focused, sustain the drive," leading international political and defence analyst Ikram Sehgal of Pakistan told an 'experience sharing' seminar held recently in the city.
World Bank (WB) last month offered its assistance to recover and repatriate money believed to be millions in dollars siphoned out of the country as it pledged US$ 200 million interest free policy-based lending to bolster reform efforts of the CG.
"Stolen assets must be recovered. The WB stands ready to provide assistance in this regard," Praful C Patel, vice president of WB said in Dhaka earlier.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also expressed similar gesture saying it would extend all its supports to sustain the anti-graft campaign.
"With the recent development, we have discussed with the ACC (Anti- Corruption Commission) chairman the ways that we can build better bond, the new needs of the commission and also to work together to make it fully operational," ADB's Country Director Hua Du said.
The US-based Associated Press (AP) in a recent analysis on Bangladesh development said "after years of rampant graft, Bangladesh's government is trying to crush corruption in one of the world's most corrupt nations".
"The campaign is widely popular . . . In a country where corruption is epidemic, the military is one of the few powerful institutions seen as relatively clean," it said.
"The 1/11 was an inevitable or unavoidable incident of the national life, there was no alternative to it," former attorney general Hassan Arif told the news agency as the caretaker government (CG) of Fakhruddin Ahmed completed its six months last week.
He said the 1/11 proved its justification as "soon after the reconstituted government took over, the anarchic situation the country was faced with, disappeared instantly".
"This was inevitable and justified to prevent Bangladesh's journey towards uncertainty as the then government had virtually collapsed," Arif said.
"The developments at that time suggested that the proclamation of the emergency and reconstitution of the government was the only option . . . as the then government had virtually collapsed," he said.
Explaining the legal perspectives of the takeover, the former attorney general said the entire process of the reconstitution of the government was valid as any adviser, including the chief adviser of the CG, could resign according to the constitution as it happened on 1/11.
"The only thing was that the political parties could not be consulted ahead of the appointment of current chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, but all will agree it was an impossible situation to consult with the political parties at that time," he said.
On the length or duration of the present CG, Arif said according to the constitution, the election commission (EC) is obligated to stage polls within 90 days of period and "there is no specified timeframe for the CG" to remain in charge.
"There is no restriction in the constitution about the length of the CG," he said but added he believed that the 18-month timeframe as announced by the CA earlier was enough to complete "all required electoral reforms" to stage polls.
Foreign donors or development partners also in the past several months extended their supports to the non-party government's initiatives, particularly against crime and corruption.
"You have done a tremendous job (spearheading anti-graft campaign) but stay focused, sustain the drive," leading international political and defence analyst Ikram Sehgal of Pakistan told an 'experience sharing' seminar held recently in the city.
World Bank (WB) last month offered its assistance to recover and repatriate money believed to be millions in dollars siphoned out of the country as it pledged US$ 200 million interest free policy-based lending to bolster reform efforts of the CG.
"Stolen assets must be recovered. The WB stands ready to provide assistance in this regard," Praful C Patel, vice president of WB said in Dhaka earlier.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also expressed similar gesture saying it would extend all its supports to sustain the anti-graft campaign.
"With the recent development, we have discussed with the ACC (Anti- Corruption Commission) chairman the ways that we can build better bond, the new needs of the commission and also to work together to make it fully operational," ADB's Country Director Hua Du said.
The US-based Associated Press (AP) in a recent analysis on Bangladesh development said "after years of rampant graft, Bangladesh's government is trying to crush corruption in one of the world's most corrupt nations".
"The campaign is widely popular . . . In a country where corruption is epidemic, the military is one of the few powerful institutions seen as relatively clean," it said.