Consultation not mandatory but desirable

It is not just the opposition the government should think of associating with an important decision of far-reaching consequence, it must also satisfy the general public that it is acting in a fair and judicious manner. The elected government has a responsibility to the nation, to the electorate to take it along with the final choice of the person who would be at the helms of conducting the general and other elections of the country, regardless of the strict letter of the law.

We do not understand the necessity for such a unilateral move, made without much apparent reflection or deliberation. What would have been lost by consultation? Had consensus not been reached or acrimony developed, the government would then have been perfectly justified in naming someone to the post.

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This would perhaps have been the more acceptable approach and the one that we would expect from a democratically elected government. Who knows? Perhaps the opposition would have agreed to Justice Aziz had they been consulted.

Let's not forget, leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina had at least tried to initiate discussions with the then opposition BNP on the appointment of the former CEC when she was prime minister. She took the initiative to include them, but was cold shouldered and told by BNP leadership then in the opposition that they wished for the AL government to resign and the caretaker government to appoint the CEC. At least the current opposition is not taking this tack.

Indeed, the appointment of the CEC was a great opportunity missed. Consultation could have paved the way for dialogue on other issues which is vitally needed. The political divide in this country has never been worse and it is the government's duty to narrow the chasm not widen it with its self-willed exclusionary action on an important matter. We had hoped the government would have shown more maturity and more statesmanship.

Let's say this to the opposition: since the government has acted as per the letter of the law -- if not in its spirit -- there is nothing to be gained by exercising their mind further on the issue. One would expect that they give Justice Aziz the chance to demonstrate that he is indeed the right man for the job.