Success and failure of caretaker government
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Syed Jamaluddin
The caretaker govt came into office in the midst of a political chaos. One has to admit that the situation obtaining in the country at that time was not at all helpful for the growth of democracy and the economy. So the caretaker govt took office with the promise of restoring the congenial atmosphere for holding a fair and credible election with the participation of all political parties. At the same time, they tried to carry out important reforms for streamlining the functioning of the govt. and building a political system that will ensure stronger and more accountable democratic politics.This backdrop is to be kept in view while evaluating the performance of this interim govt.
It is said that the caretaker govt (CTG) is exiting with a bad report card. It did try to do so many good things at the beginning and overstretched itself. The CTG did not have political mandate for dealing with far-reaching issues. It is alleged that the caretaker govt could not do anything in the education sector and handling of the market situation was far from satisfactory. The minus two theory relating to the chiefs of two major parties and the strategy of setting up alternative political party did not work. The initial aim of the anti-corruption drive was catching the corrupt people but later the drive was conducted with a political perspective. Arrested people have been freed just before election. This is because the CTG needs a safe exit mechanism to hand over power to the elected govt.
The CTG tried to encourage the political parties to introduce reforms in the conduct of their business but met with little success. It is argued that political parties would bring reforms themselves but an impulse should come from the civil society. Some of the political parties have made cosmetic changes to comply with the requirements of the election commission. .Bangladesh does not have a properly constituted civil society to create an impact on the masses. The civil society is tied to political parties and does not represent a neutral force. The middle class is also not very strong. Therefore, the common people can not put pressure on the politicians to introduce reforms. Many believe that there will not be any qualitative change in the conduct of affairs of the state after election because more or less similar set of people from either party will be at the helm of affairs. But it will be a positive outcome if the changes introduced by this CTG are retained by the next elected govt.
The CTG has introduced many reforms. They have reorganised the Public Service Commission, the Anti-corruption Commission and the Election Commission, constituted the Bangladesh Better Business Forum and the Regulatory Reforms Commission, separated the Judiciary from the Executive and set up the Judicial Reforms Commission. Preparation of voter list and ID card with the help of the army is a singular achievement of the CTG. Their performance during floods and Sidr is commendable. Phenomenal progress was made in Chittagong port. The BDR made a positive impact on price level. The CTG has made all preparations for holding an election with the participation of all political parties. This is an outstanding contribution..
People welcomed the CTG when they started the anti-corruption drive but it could not bring this to conclusion and made compromises with the political parties. The NCC (National Coordination Council) and the task forces played a significant role to yield quick results within a short time in the massive anti-corruption drive. Many corrupt suspects were arrested but later they were freed. The intention of the CTG was good but they could not implement many of their ideas.Something went wrong against them like the worldwide food crisis and the natural disaster. The election commission has made some good provisions so that loan defaulters and bill defaulters can not contest elections. This was an encouragement for good people to participate in election.
The main objective of the CTG was to hold the general election with participation of all parties For this the CTG had to make concession in accordance with the demands of political parties. When political parties began bargaining over imprisoned and convicted leaders, the govt had no option but to be soft to ensure participation of all parties in the polls. The NCC and the task forces made good progress and will hand over the unfinished work to the authorities concerned. The data collected by the task forces can be utilised by the relevant agencies.
While visiting Bangladesh on December 12, 2008, US Senator John McCain hoped that Bangladesh would return to democracy by holding perhaps one of the fairest elections in the world. He thanked the CTG. and the army for strengthening the foundation of democracy and urged all political parties to accept the result of elections and work together for the cause of the country. He further commented that a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh was important to fight terrorism in a coordinated way. He went on to record appreciation to the CTG and the army for the job they have done and the peaceful transfer of power(planned). to an elected govt. He, however, said the work is not yet done and the elected successor should continue the reform process already started and to build democracy and enhance prosperity for the people of Bangladesh.
The nation had its fundamental rights reinstated on December 17, 2008 after nearly two years.Political parties and candidates will now carry out electioneering without having to face any restrictions. The withdrawal of emergency comes on immense pressure from the political parties and rights organisations. BNP played a special role in ending emergency whereas former president Ershad pleaded for holding election during emergency.Lifting of emergency marks a drastic shift in caretaker administration. As promised the CTG has withdrawn emergency before the election. This goes to the credit of the administration.The army also kept its word of not taking over the control of the govt.All preconditions for holding a fair and free election have now been met.The ball is now in the court of the political parties.They should play their part in steering the nation to its cherished goal for attaining a truly democratic order.
The chief of army staff said that the army came to the aid of the civil administration and it did the job the caretaker govt. gave them, like checking terrorism,recovering illegal arms, preventing drug trafficking and maintenance of law and order. The army happily returned to the barrack following the govt. decision. The army played a crucial role in helping farmers when two floods and cyclone Sidr devastated them. According to him,the army's role in preparing the voter list,the national ID card and introducing the automation system in Chittagong port customs house was very important. The CTG incuding the armed forces deserve appreciation for what they have done.The armed forces are out in the field again on election duty.
The few days remaining before the election are crucial.The Chief Adviser called on the armed forces to discharge their election duty with total neutrality and transparency.We hope the armed forces will give a befitting finishing touch to the tasks they set out when they decided to back the emergency and the CTG in its programme of giving the nation a credible election.The nation expects that the armed forces will carry out the last leg of their duty without any bias. All concerned would hope that the political parties would not lead the country to a confrontational situation after the election.They must not forget the price they have paid during the last two years for their activities prior to emergency.
(The writer is an economist and columnist)
The caretaker govt came into office in the midst of a political chaos. One has to admit that the situation obtaining in the country at that time was not at all helpful for the growth of democracy and the economy. So the caretaker govt took office with the promise of restoring the congenial atmosphere for holding a fair and credible election with the participation of all political parties. At the same time, they tried to carry out important reforms for streamlining the functioning of the govt. and building a political system that will ensure stronger and more accountable democratic politics.This backdrop is to be kept in view while evaluating the performance of this interim govt.
It is said that the caretaker govt (CTG) is exiting with a bad report card. It did try to do so many good things at the beginning and overstretched itself. The CTG did not have political mandate for dealing with far-reaching issues. It is alleged that the caretaker govt could not do anything in the education sector and handling of the market situation was far from satisfactory. The minus two theory relating to the chiefs of two major parties and the strategy of setting up alternative political party did not work. The initial aim of the anti-corruption drive was catching the corrupt people but later the drive was conducted with a political perspective. Arrested people have been freed just before election. This is because the CTG needs a safe exit mechanism to hand over power to the elected govt.
The CTG tried to encourage the political parties to introduce reforms in the conduct of their business but met with little success. It is argued that political parties would bring reforms themselves but an impulse should come from the civil society. Some of the political parties have made cosmetic changes to comply with the requirements of the election commission. .Bangladesh does not have a properly constituted civil society to create an impact on the masses. The civil society is tied to political parties and does not represent a neutral force. The middle class is also not very strong. Therefore, the common people can not put pressure on the politicians to introduce reforms. Many believe that there will not be any qualitative change in the conduct of affairs of the state after election because more or less similar set of people from either party will be at the helm of affairs. But it will be a positive outcome if the changes introduced by this CTG are retained by the next elected govt.
The CTG has introduced many reforms. They have reorganised the Public Service Commission, the Anti-corruption Commission and the Election Commission, constituted the Bangladesh Better Business Forum and the Regulatory Reforms Commission, separated the Judiciary from the Executive and set up the Judicial Reforms Commission. Preparation of voter list and ID card with the help of the army is a singular achievement of the CTG. Their performance during floods and Sidr is commendable. Phenomenal progress was made in Chittagong port. The BDR made a positive impact on price level. The CTG has made all preparations for holding an election with the participation of all political parties. This is an outstanding contribution..
People welcomed the CTG when they started the anti-corruption drive but it could not bring this to conclusion and made compromises with the political parties. The NCC (National Coordination Council) and the task forces played a significant role to yield quick results within a short time in the massive anti-corruption drive. Many corrupt suspects were arrested but later they were freed. The intention of the CTG was good but they could not implement many of their ideas.Something went wrong against them like the worldwide food crisis and the natural disaster. The election commission has made some good provisions so that loan defaulters and bill defaulters can not contest elections. This was an encouragement for good people to participate in election.
The main objective of the CTG was to hold the general election with participation of all parties For this the CTG had to make concession in accordance with the demands of political parties. When political parties began bargaining over imprisoned and convicted leaders, the govt had no option but to be soft to ensure participation of all parties in the polls. The NCC and the task forces made good progress and will hand over the unfinished work to the authorities concerned. The data collected by the task forces can be utilised by the relevant agencies.
While visiting Bangladesh on December 12, 2008, US Senator John McCain hoped that Bangladesh would return to democracy by holding perhaps one of the fairest elections in the world. He thanked the CTG. and the army for strengthening the foundation of democracy and urged all political parties to accept the result of elections and work together for the cause of the country. He further commented that a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh was important to fight terrorism in a coordinated way. He went on to record appreciation to the CTG and the army for the job they have done and the peaceful transfer of power(planned). to an elected govt. He, however, said the work is not yet done and the elected successor should continue the reform process already started and to build democracy and enhance prosperity for the people of Bangladesh.
The nation had its fundamental rights reinstated on December 17, 2008 after nearly two years.Political parties and candidates will now carry out electioneering without having to face any restrictions. The withdrawal of emergency comes on immense pressure from the political parties and rights organisations. BNP played a special role in ending emergency whereas former president Ershad pleaded for holding election during emergency.Lifting of emergency marks a drastic shift in caretaker administration. As promised the CTG has withdrawn emergency before the election. This goes to the credit of the administration.The army also kept its word of not taking over the control of the govt.All preconditions for holding a fair and free election have now been met.The ball is now in the court of the political parties.They should play their part in steering the nation to its cherished goal for attaining a truly democratic order.
The chief of army staff said that the army came to the aid of the civil administration and it did the job the caretaker govt. gave them, like checking terrorism,recovering illegal arms, preventing drug trafficking and maintenance of law and order. The army happily returned to the barrack following the govt. decision. The army played a crucial role in helping farmers when two floods and cyclone Sidr devastated them. According to him,the army's role in preparing the voter list,the national ID card and introducing the automation system in Chittagong port customs house was very important. The CTG incuding the armed forces deserve appreciation for what they have done.The armed forces are out in the field again on election duty.
The few days remaining before the election are crucial.The Chief Adviser called on the armed forces to discharge their election duty with total neutrality and transparency.We hope the armed forces will give a befitting finishing touch to the tasks they set out when they decided to back the emergency and the CTG in its programme of giving the nation a credible election.The nation expects that the armed forces will carry out the last leg of their duty without any bias. All concerned would hope that the political parties would not lead the country to a confrontational situation after the election.They must not forget the price they have paid during the last two years for their activities prior to emergency.
(The writer is an economist and columnist)