Bangladesh News

Eminent citizens yesterday asked all to assist the caretaker government in implementing its roadmap on its way to handing over power to an elected government.

No situation should be created which may delay holding of the next general elections in a free and fair manner and smooth handover of power to the elected government, they said at a discussion programme titled “Politics, Election and Future of the Country”.

Hailing different reform initiatives of the government, the speakers urged all for their cooperation for the sustainability and irreversibility of these initiatives.

Failure of the caretaker government in carrying out these fundamental reforms to “pull the derailed train on track” will push the country back to a chaotic situation again, they said at the discussion organised by the daily Prothom Alo at its office with Editor Matiur Rahman as the moderator.

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain asked the caretaker government to make public all evidence collected in support of corruption charges against top politicians.

“Let people know that big contracts were awarded in exchange for crores of taka,” he said, noting that there is propaganda that false cases are being filed against popular leaders.

Kamal asked the political parties to have a consensus on fundamental issues to support each other regarding them.

Reforms Regulatory Commission Chairman and former caretaker government adviser Akbar Ali Khan stressed the need for a check-and-balance system regarding power of the executive wing.

Akbar demanded that the government publish a White Paper on reforms and implement it before handing over power.

Asking the caretaker government not to get involved in politics, he said, “Then they will be identified as opportunist and lose their moral basis.”

BNP leader Osman Faruk said, “The main objective of all activities should be ensuring that the reforms sustain after the reformists leave.”

Emphasising an institutional framework to ensure that no one in the political parties has unbalanced power, he said, “Many think reform means merely a change in the leadership. We have failed to explain its essence to them.”

The government should give exemplary punishment for some large-scale corruption and announce a general amnesty for the small ones saying from now on everyone will be under vigilance.

Osman asked the government to introduce a law on funding of the political parties.

Opposing the “doctrine of necessity”, former Dhaka University VC Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said, “No matter how competent and honest the caretaker government is, it is very harmful for healthy politics and democracy to say that it is perfect time to get all these things done.”

Noting that there should be a balance of power in the executive wing, he said, “Nowhere in the world does an executive hold so much power. Why does the president just have to sit and sign some files?”

Prof Emajuddin said the caretaker government should narrow down its focus to preparing the voter roll and holding an election free of black money and muscle power. It should not take any major policy decision, especially regarding economy and Chittagong Port.

Prof Dilara Chowdhury noted that political parties presently have a lack of trust in the caretaker government regarding timely holding of the general elections. “It is important to have an understanding between the parties and the government,” she said.

Commandant of National Defence College, Lt Gen ATM Zahirul Alam asked all to assist the caretaker government in accomplishing its mission. “They have not taken the responsibility on their own; it was a necessity for everyone’s welfare. We should help them ensure that 1/11 never comes back.

“The political parties should have a system of succession within themselves,” he said.

Former adviser to the caretaker government Sultana Kamal also said, “The political parties should introduce a process where no one is considered indispensable.”

Awami League Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said he prefers a “one-sided election” like February 15, 1996 to the current situation.

He demanded lifting of the ban on politics for the sake of reforms and strongly opposed businessmen’s joining politics.

Noting that Tk 12,000 crore is lying idle in private commercial banks, former adviser Syed Monjur Elahi said, “Businessmen are in confusion about what will happen next. They are afraid of investing and opting to wait to see what happens.”

The reforms will be meaningless if lawmakers turn into lawbreakers, he said.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the demand for trial of the war criminals and banning religion-based politics is one of the fundamental reform demands and the government should initiate steps in this regard.

Dr Shahdeen Malik proposed holding of elections in upazilas where preparation of the voter roll has completed since “good candidates will be encouraged to participate in the election, which will also encourage good people to come up in the general elections”.

Noting that many people think the government should play a more dynamic role in implementing its roadmap, the speakers said the government should develop a communication strategy to keep people properly informed about its activities. They asked the government to take people into confidence and let them know about their plans.

Prothom Alo Joint Editor Abdul Qaiyum proposed signing of a national charter to make the reforms irreversible.