Upholding the integrity of political process

"All parties should work together to ensure the integrity of the voter list. Elections are not just about the mechanics of voter lists and polling day but elections are about choices," she said at a luncheon meeting of American Chamber recently.

This, she probably said in the backdrop of speculations in different circles that there is a design to foil the country's democratic process, taking advantage of the prevailing confrontational politics between the BNP and the Awami League.

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About the stance of the United States of America on the elections, she had earlier also made it clear that her country would not take any sides. "We are not taking and will not take any sides. We are committed to help Bangladesh have a free and fair credible election. We support the process not any particular party."

Harry K. Thomas, the predecessor of Ms Patricia A. Butenis, had said, " If the country's political parties fail to work together, the emergence of any third party cannot be ruled out."

Both of them have, in fact, expressed their concern over the country's prevailing confrontational politics between the ruling BNP- led alliance and the Awami League led opposition combine. The people of the country also feel that both the major political parties need to reach a consensus on major national issues forgetting their petty selfish interests.

There is the same old blame game between the government and the main opposition Awami League (AL) even over the incidents of violence in the country's garments sector in recent weeks. Instead of blaming each other they should unite to overcome the situation. People expect that the major political parties would avoid the path of mudslinging against each other and engage themselves in constructive politics-politics which would deliver the goods to the common masses.

Patricia A. Butenis has been passing busy days interacting with cross sections of people since her arrival here as the new ambassador of her country. Recently she had an exchange of views with senior members of the press at the National Press Club, where she said that none should expect the US administration to tell Bangladesh government "to do this or to do that".

The US ambassador described corruption, violence, fraud, opposition to dialogue as some of the impediments to free and fair elections. The violence in the country's garments sector, she said, is likely to create negative impact on her country's buyers. She favored resolution of the issue through peaceful means shunning the path of violence.

Underlining the importance of continuos dialogue between the ruling and the opposition parties, Ms. Butenis said the US administration does not have any magic solution in their hands, "We encourage both the parties to continue dialogue, privately and quietly, make some sort of compromise and find ways to achieve free and fair elections."

She has, in other words, underlined the need for greater unity of the country's political forces to foil evil design of disrupting the country's democratic process. The country has witnessed the holding of general elections thrice under caretaker government system (CTG) and the polls were described as free and fair.

In this context, she said, "the government should not seek to stack the deck in its favor and the opposition should use democratic means not street violence and intimidation to advance its political objectives."

Meanwhile, demand has been raised from different quarters for ensuring a complete and accurate voter list in accordance with the law. They think that in the light of the past national elections, which were generally regarded as being free and fair, the country should be able to make the next elections equally credible and acceptable to all parties. In this context, the US envoy said, "We all want that tradition to continue, with the next election being broadly accepted as legitimate and accurate."

In the interest of Bangladesh's political, economic and social future, all those responsible for the country's political violence, whether in the past or now, should be identified and brought to justice as has been demanded by the people in general and development partners in particular.

It is the collective responsibility of the people of the country, and the political parties, to work together so that the process of democracy cannot be hampered by any quarter. Progress and prosperity of the country depend mostly on integrity of its political process, in other words consolidation of the country's democracy as well as democratic institutions.

Meanwhile, AL has been asking its people to intensify street agitation to realise its demands -- reforms of CTGS and electoral reforms on the one hand and to prepare for the forthcoming elections on the other.

The political analysts of the country described it as a positive change in the behaviour of the party. AL Chief and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina has also started the process of short listing her party candidates for the coming elections. It remains to be seen how things develop as the handing over of power to caretaker government is drawing near.

Nurul Huda is a Special Correspondent of BSS