A harassed caretaker government
September 27, 2008 00:00:00
A government anywhere, worthy of its name, must be free to exercise its authority. It may be a caretaker government but that does not mean that it should be run according to the wishes or dictates of outsiders. In that case, it becomes anything but a government functioning under coercion or influence.
The caretaker government now feels itself to be a truly beleaguered one in all respects. Its effectiveness as a truly even-handed institution, as it should be to meet Constitutional obligations, has been eroded by tremendous pressures, mounted on it by different quarters. Different quarters practically dictate to it courses of action that satisfy them. Ultimatums, intimidations and threats are what the caretaker government receives regularly.
The caretaker government is under immense pressure for a balanced treatment of the issues. The pressure givers want the government to yield instantly to their demands without considering the different aspects. It becomes different for the CA and his advisers who took the oath not be unfair to any side.
Pressure groups seem bent on not allowing time to the caretaker government to act in a relaxed manner to take decisions fairly and independently. They want immediate decisions in their favour for which they do not hesitate to flex muscles. They force the government to take decisions that would benefit them but do not meet the expectations of the people.
The caretaker government has already met a great deal of the demands of the dissenting elements. One is led to ask when they would stop raising demands. 'Perhaps only after grabbing state power by any means', commented a political observer the other day.
Mashuqul Haque
Gulshan, Dhaka