Bangladesh News

The next caretaker government, which is likely to be formed hurriedly in the wake of impasse over the appointment of chief adviser, will face challenges to create a level-playing field for free and fair polls within a short time.

Officially, the caretaker government has a 90-day tenure, but it will have only 58 workdays to complete the massive task of creating a peaceful atmosphere for the election besides running day-to-day routine work.

With the formation of the next non-party interim government close at hand, nothing however is certain yet due to the prevailing political impasse over the possible chief of the caretaker government.

Former Chief Justice KM Hasan is supposed to be the next caretaker chief, but his path is not so smooth like his predecessor Justice Latifur Rahman as there has been a political deadlock over his assuming the post.

Justice Latifur Rahman, who led the previous caretaker government in 2001, had over four months’ time to complete the groundwork to lead the interim government. He prepared himself as well as finalised the names of his ten advisers and made them prepared mentally before assuming office in July 2001.

But, the scene is totally different this time as both the ruling and opposition alliances are at loggerheads over Justice Hasan’s becoming the chief adviser.

There is also little possibility that the stalemate will break before the present government’s tenure expires on October 27 despite the ongoing dialogue between ruling BNP and main opposition Awami League (AL).

TIME CONSTRAINT

Even if the caretaker government is formed on October 28, it will have only 58 working days after deducting 24 weekly holidays, six days of two Eid vacations, and one day each for Victory Day and November 7.

During this short time it will have to create a level playing field and assist the Election Commission (EC) before announcing the polls schedule. It will also have to settle the existing disputes over the updated voter list and the EC.

The caretaker government will also have to depoliticise the civil and police administration and maintain law and order besides the day-to-day routine work and facing economic challenge.

It should be noted here, the EC keeps at least 40 days’ gap between the announcement of election schedules and polling day in accordance with electoral laws. This means the caretaker administration will have a very short time before announcing the election schedules.

Amid such situation, those who will be the caretaker government chief and other advisers will have little time to get themselves prepared about the mode of work before assuming office.

The advisers to the immediate past caretaker government were informed of their possible appointment at least a month before taking oath. A number of them told The Daily Star that the then would-be chief adviser asked them to get prepared mentally for the caretaker government posts.

“Justice Latifur Rahman even informed me of my portfolio around three weeks ago so that I could chalk up my plans,” a former adviser, who ran a few very crucial ministries, told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity.

Many former advisers forecast a very tough time for the next caretaker government as nothing is certain yet about who will lead the interim government.

They observed that the next interim government will have to face difficulties to depoliticise the highly politicised civil and police administration for the sake of creating a level playing field.

“In view of the shortage of time and preparation, I personally believe, it will be rather difficult for the caretaker government to fulfil its constitutional obligations to create a peaceful atmosphere for holding a free and fair election,” former adviser to the caretaker government Major General (retd) Moinul Hossain Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

“As the BNP and Awami League are still discussing the appointment of the chief of the caretaker government, there is an element of uncertainty about who will lead the interim caretaker administration,” Moinul, who led a number of ministries including the home ministry in the immediate past caretaker government, said.

“Besides, appointment of the chief adviser and other advisers cannot be done overnight and these people will need orientation; they will also need to collect information and other necessary details to run the day-to-day administrative work and assist the Election Commission,” he observed.

Echoing the view, former adviser ASM Shajahan said, “The constraint of time must be a big factor for the caretaker government, the main task of which is to assist the Election Commission and create a congenial atmosphere by depoliticising the administration.”

He, however, hoped that the constraint of time and other difficulties will be overcome if there is a consensus over the formation of the caretaker government.

The last parliamentary election was held on the 79th day of the then caretaker government’s tenure while the seventh parliamentary election was held on the 75th day of the then caretaker government.

The first caretaker government held the parliamentary election on the 84th day of its tenure.

SCENE DURING LAST CARETAKER GOVT
Justice Latifur Rahman wrote in his memoir “Tatwabodhayak Sarkarer Dinguli Ebong Amar Kichhu Kotha” (days of the caretaker government and a few words of mine), that he had over four months’ time to select his advisers who took oath on July 16, 2001.

The president advised him to make preparations for assuming the office of the chief adviser and select the names of other advisers, Justice Latifur Rahman said in the book referring to his courtesy call to the president on February 28, 2001 upon retiring from the post of chief justice.

The former chief adviser finalised the names of his advisers and their portfolios on July 9-10, a week before taking oaths.

Justice Latifur Rahman also had the time to depoliticise the civil and police administration as he was confirmed that he would lead the caretaker government.

From March, senior government officials started communicating with him.