Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) in its draft electoral manifesto pledged to review, if needed, the caretaker government system and will continue electoral reforms to strengthen the country’s election system.

AL policymakers made plans to come up with the promise as the formation and function of the caretaker government since October, 2006, has been mired in controversy, resulting in the long delay in holding the national elections, party insiders said.

The AL’s draft electoral manifesto says that if the party is voted to power, a reliable election system and regular elections will be ensured, if needed through a close review of the caretaker government system.

“We envision a democratic system where people choose their government freely and get services from it without hassle, enjoy freedom from fear and intolerance, live with dignity and be sure of social justice…” says the draft manifesto.

To bring any changes to the caretaker government system, introduced in 1996 following a movement, requires amending the country’s constitution.

If the AL-led electoral alliance wins in the upcoming parliamentary election set for December 29 and is able to manage two-thirds majority in parliament, it can easily proceed with its electoral pledge.

However, if the AL-led alliance fails to get two-thirds majority, it will have to depend on the opposition’s support in parliament to decide the future course of the caretaker government system.

“As it will be a major change, we need consent of all political parties in parliament,” AL Presidium member Abdur Razzak told The Daily Star.

Replying to a query he said, “We will decide on the matter at the next parliament and experiences of earlier elections including the December 29 national elections under the caretaker government system will be reviewed prior to making any decision in this regard.”

Talking to The Daily Star Jatiya Party (JP) Presidium member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu said there would be no problem in holding a free and fair election if the country has a strong and independent Election Commission, judiciary and Anti-Corruption Commission.

“Due to the controversial caretaker government system, the January 11, 2007, changeover took place. It cannot deal political things since the caretaker system is non-political. There is no need for the system,” he said, adding that if the AL-led grand alliance is voted to power they would raise the issue in parliament for the present system’s abolishment.

Implementation of another AL promise to increase the number of reserved seats for women in parliament to 100 from the current 45 and direct election of those, also requires amending the constitution.

The other major electoral alliance led by BNP is, however, yet to express their stance on the future of the caretaker government system or reserved seats for women.

The Daily Star got a copy of the draft manifesto which says that the AL, if voted to form the government, will continue reforms to the Election Commission (EC) and the election system.

The AL Central Working Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body, is supposed to sit today to discuss the draft electoral manifesto.

In the wake of widespread controversy over the jurisdiction of the caretaker government and its current long tenure, many political analysts have observed that time has come to review the system.

Following the fall of HM Ershad’s regime through public uprising in 1990, the fifth parliamentary election was held in 1991 under a makeshift government led by Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed.

A number of by-elections to vacant seats of the fifth parliament were held under the regime of the then BNP-led government but fairness of the polls was questioned as the then ruling party manipulated the polls.

Finally the much-talked-about Magura by-election held in 1994 fuelled street agitation launched by the opposition parties demanding introduction of the caretaker government system for parliamentary polls.

The then ruling BNP refused to meet the demand and held national elections on February 15, 1996 which the AL, Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and others boycotted. After the polls, the sixth parliament was formed and it amended the constitution introducing the caretaker government for a limited period during which the parliamentary elections are to be held.

After introduction of the caretaker government system, two parliamentary elections were held on June 12, 1996, and October 1, 2001, which were more or less acceptable.

Formation of a new caretaker government in October, 2006, witnessed severe political turmoil as the then BNP-Jamaat-led government in its tenure amended the constitution in such a way that former chief justice KM Hasan would lead the caretaker government.

The AL-led electoral alliance refused to accept Justice Hasan as chief of the caretaker government. President Iajuddin Ahmed took oath as the chief adviser but failed to minimise the political crisis. He stepped down from the post and declared the state of emergency on January 11, 2007, suspending the scheduled January 22, 2007, parliamentary polls.

On January 12, 2007, Fakhruddin Ahmed took oath as chief adviser to new caretaker government, which has been running the country since then continuing the state of emergency. Many of its actions sparked controversy and have been challenged at the Supreme Court.