Parliament to play its due role
Thursday, 7 January 2010
THE people of Bangladesh have, for long, been longing for institutionalising democracy where the parliament would be the centre point of a democratically governed polity. But nearly twenty years have elapsed since the end of the "authoritarian" rule and the transition to a seemingly full-fledged elected and parliamentary system of governance. But dispassionate observers of the Bangladesh scene find that the country is yet to complete its journey to democracy in the real sense of the term. Over the last two decades the parliament for the greater part of the tenures of successive elected governments had a rather lackluster existence, with the main opposition boycotting its sessions.
Indeed, the parliament's boycott by the opposition turned into an unchanging feature of sorts in this era. This highly undesirable tradition is continuing also in the present parliament, notwithstanding that politicians on all sides had suffered traumas in varying degrees under non-elected governance for two years from 2007. The opposition was briefly present in the inaugural session of parliament last year but adopted since then an absenting stance all through that session. The winter session of parliament has convened recently. But the opposition has seen staying away. In all appearances, the boycott is likely to continue as the return to parliament by the opposition has been made conditional, dependent on the government side accepting some of its demands. But the ruling party may be in no mood to concede these demands as it maintains that the same cannot be any reasons for the opposition members of parliament (MPs) not to exercise their representational, law making and other very vital functions for which their respective constituencies elected them in the first place. The MPs in the opposition find faults with the conduct of the ruling party members vis-a-vis their key leaders. But many feel this should stand in the way of the fulfillment of their cardinal duties to the people and the nation at large. Nor can they link fulfillment of their narrow demands with what would be otherwise their fundamental obligation to attend parliament to try and discharge their bounden duties.
As for the ruling party members of parliament, they also have a serious and devoted role to play under the circumstances in winning over the confidence of the opposition through their sincere action rather than only reassuring words. Even if it requires making some reasonable concessions or gestures, they should consider the same as worth making to pave the way for the opposition's return and in the higher interest of democracy and the parliament's effectiveness. The opposition should also give up its dogged insistence on demands, right or wrong. However, the lesson must not be lost on either of the sides that the inability to forge a working relationship by keeping the parliament handicapped for long, only creates the ground for reappearance of unelected governance which cannot be in their better interests or that of the country.
It is important for the political animosities and discords to be contained well within the premises of parliament for institutionalising democracy. Maintaining a minimum of cordiality and working relationship is also a goal that both the ruling party and the opposition need to aim for in order to wisely promote their own self interests while also contributing towards the vital political stability that the country so badly needs for its economic security.
Indeed, the parliament's boycott by the opposition turned into an unchanging feature of sorts in this era. This highly undesirable tradition is continuing also in the present parliament, notwithstanding that politicians on all sides had suffered traumas in varying degrees under non-elected governance for two years from 2007. The opposition was briefly present in the inaugural session of parliament last year but adopted since then an absenting stance all through that session. The winter session of parliament has convened recently. But the opposition has seen staying away. In all appearances, the boycott is likely to continue as the return to parliament by the opposition has been made conditional, dependent on the government side accepting some of its demands. But the ruling party may be in no mood to concede these demands as it maintains that the same cannot be any reasons for the opposition members of parliament (MPs) not to exercise their representational, law making and other very vital functions for which their respective constituencies elected them in the first place. The MPs in the opposition find faults with the conduct of the ruling party members vis-a-vis their key leaders. But many feel this should stand in the way of the fulfillment of their cardinal duties to the people and the nation at large. Nor can they link fulfillment of their narrow demands with what would be otherwise their fundamental obligation to attend parliament to try and discharge their bounden duties.
As for the ruling party members of parliament, they also have a serious and devoted role to play under the circumstances in winning over the confidence of the opposition through their sincere action rather than only reassuring words. Even if it requires making some reasonable concessions or gestures, they should consider the same as worth making to pave the way for the opposition's return and in the higher interest of democracy and the parliament's effectiveness. The opposition should also give up its dogged insistence on demands, right or wrong. However, the lesson must not be lost on either of the sides that the inability to forge a working relationship by keeping the parliament handicapped for long, only creates the ground for reappearance of unelected governance which cannot be in their better interests or that of the country.
It is important for the political animosities and discords to be contained well within the premises of parliament for institutionalising democracy. Maintaining a minimum of cordiality and working relationship is also a goal that both the ruling party and the opposition need to aim for in order to wisely promote their own self interests while also contributing towards the vital political stability that the country so badly needs for its economic security.