Bangladesh News

Terming the extortion case against Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina ‘peculiar’, Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein has said that the caretaker government would examine the case and take action only if the allegations are proved to be true.
“Why such a case will be filed against a former prime minister? Rather, it should have been a corruption case,” the law adviser said adding that due to this oddity, the national task force will examine the allegation. He was speaking at the BBC Bangladesh Sanglap on Saturday.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) would verify the corruption charges against the AL chief, Mainul said.

He also stressed the need for bringing reforms in the rules of First Information Report (FIR) so that the cases filed by the government get more importance over the cases filed by the individuals. The reform is also necessary so that the police cannot harass anyone, he added.

BBC Bangla Service in conjunction with the BBC World Service Trust organised the discussion at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city. Kamal Ahmed of BBC Bangla Service moderated the event.

AL Presidium Member Motia Chowdhury, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser Mofazzal Karim and editor of the daily New Age Nurul Kabir also took part in the dialogue as discussants.

The law adviser observed that there were no prime ministers in Bangladesh in the past against whom charges of corruption were not made. Without naming anyone and referring indirectly to the chiefs of the two top political parties of the country, Mainul said that if they are convicted in corruption cases, they would be disqualified from running in the polls as per the electoral laws.

“We have formulated rules to arrest the alleged black money holders. Some have already been captured and others will be tracked down. If found guilty, the black money holders, whoever they are, will be declared disqualified to contest the next election,” he said.

The law adviser said that the government also has plans to amend some electoral rules after discussing with the political parties, so that a free and fair election free from black money, muscle power and conflict, could be held.

Describing the cases against Hasina as ‘fabricated and conspiratorial,’ Motia observed that these were filed with ‘ill motive’, while Mofazzal said that before taking any actions, the allegations against anyone must be checked first in each case.

The New Age editor noted that corruption charges against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and AL President Sheikh Hasina are not new. The serious charges against them should be examined thoroughly in a transparent way so that no negative intention by any quarter could be successful.

Replying to another query, the law adviser observed that the politics of the country has turned into ‘dynastic politics’ as practice of democracy is absent within the political parties. He also advised the politicians to think about what have been going on in the name of politics, adding that it could not be allowed to continue.

“If we want to see an end to confrontational politics as well as corruption, killings, plundering, grabbing of lands and properties, then the present leadership of the parties will have to be changed,” he said adding that it is the national demand to exclude those who had contributed to the criminalisation of politics in the past.

When both the BNP and AL leaders present said that the change in leadership would be decided by the party leaders, workers and people of the country, Mainul observed that such a move is yet to be witnessed.

Asked whether it is possible to hold a free and fair poll by 2008 as per the pledge made by the chief adviser, the law adviser said that it is their prime duty as they had assumed power at a time of a civil war like situation in the country due to violent confrontational politics.

“We are sincerely working towards holding a election as early as possible so that a fair and democratic government comprising honest and competent persons assumes power, instead of a crooked one,” Mainul said.

Motia said that the nation wants election be held as early as possible, adding that the commoners would not allow any un-elected government to rule for an indefinite period of time.

Nurul Kabir said that the fulfilment of the pledge made by the chief adviser would depend on what steps the caretaker government take, while Mofazzal Karim said that he believes the government would be able to hold the next election by 2008.