Bangladesh News

The newly formed caretaker government has huge challenges ahead and has to prove its neutrality by reconstituting the Election Commission (EC) and make the administration neutral for a free and acceptable election, civil society members said yesterday.

The government should act courageously and neutrally since many questions had arisen about its formation, they last night told The Daily Star after 10 advisers to the caretaker government were sworn in.

“The EC has to be reshaped, the voter list has to be changed lawfully so that it becomes acceptable to all, while the administration also has to be freed from political influence,” said Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, trustee member of the Transparency International Bangladesh.

Former caretaker government adviser SM Shahjahan said the advisers have to perform their duties neutrally and with courage as the president was selected from a political party and questions have been raised about his being the chief of the caretaker government.

He suggested that after recovering from the political unrest in the country, the new government has to organise a credible election by reforming the EC, carrying out reforms in the electoral system, and making the administration neutral and acceptable.

Another former caretaker government adviser Maj Gen (retd) Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, however, said, “There are no active freedom fighters in the caretaker government cabinet for the first time.”

He said, “I don’t know them well, except one or two. So let them perform their duties first.”

“They are very capable and good people, and they would form a good team as well. I know most of them,” former adviser Manzur Elahi said, adding, “They have huge challenges ahead of them, as the situation is now very different from 1996. The major political parties lack understanding and cooperation.”

He also suggested changes in the EC, the administration as well the police force.

Former adviser Hafiz Uddin Khan said, “All of them are quite capable individuals… nothing could be said without seeing what they do.”

Economist Wahiduddin Mahmud said, “Formation of this caretaker government is different from the previous ones. Being the elected president, the chief of caretaker government has had party links. So, it is up to him to be neutral.”

He also said, “The advisers have been selected from the list supplied by political parties, unlike the previous advisers. The challenge for them is to work as a team and to project a credible non-partisan image of the caretaker government. The team spirit is essential for an effective caretaker government.”