Constraints in the path to peaceful co-existence

Meantime, the turmoil over his words and action, his mimics, his alleged and deliberate dodging (or shall we say flouting?) of the Hon'ble High Court directives to update the existing voter list instead of going for a new voter list, his preferring an appeal against High Court ruling and yet continuing the process of making a new voter list without waiting for the results of the appeal, squandering in consequence huge amount of public money, have been very much in the air. Any possible exaggeration over his role excepted, even the ministers and leaders of the present four-party alliance appear now to have been equally concerned about CEC's role. Law minister Moudud Ahmed, among others, has insisted that the CEC should no longer bide time to act in lien with the judgment of the supreme court on the issue of voter list updating.

On the other hand, the fate of the reform proposal for the system of the caretaker government and the Election Commission vis-a-vis the current demand of Awami League led 14-party alliance for removal of the present CEC and the two ECs, continue to be very uncertain. The government, in its part, appears to be disinterested to discuss the reform proposals taking a self-same hard line on its committee members. On the prospect of CEC and the two ECs voluntarily stepping down after their appeal on the new voter list was rejected by the Supreme Court, the law minister in particular thought that this would be their personal decision where the government didn't have any guidance or comment to offer. The CEC himself thought that those who wanted his resignation were ignorant of the constitutional position in this regard. His position, he claimed, was a constitutional post not at all regulated or guided by the ordinary rules of employment of government employees.

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None would challenge or contest the validity of such contention. Yet it would be very difficult for any one with little sensibility to accept the ever erratic personal demeanor of the present incumbent. In fact this gentleman since his assumption of office in May 2005 has given rise to innumerable controversies through his words and actions. At his instance the enumerators in the field in many cases were reported to have prepared new voter list with fictitious names and addresses mostly non-extant. These were all done on the basis of concocted or false data. As a direct impact of such machinations the whole environment for a free and fair election has been utterly vitiated.

On top of all these farcical activities of the CEC MA Aziz resulting in the production of an unbelievably inflated voter list with two crore additional names under his supervision had created history. Things are taking such a bad shape that it is now almost impossible on the part of the opposition political parties to participate in the 2007 general election under the present CEC and his entourage. Boycott on their part seems to be inevitable. More so when the government continues to be adamant on the committee comprising those with whom AL led 14-party alliance refused to sit for any dialogue on the reform proposal. It may be recalled in this connection that the 14-party alliance authorised Awami League alone to do the talking on their behalf. Likewise the 4-party alliance could authorise BNP to represent all of them in the dialogue. But they didn't do so deliberately and purposefully in order to get formal recognition of Awami League and to salvage their brazen faces on war criminals. BNP itself appears to have sided with them to ensure that the dialogue doesn't take place at all. The liability of the failure, in their opinion, would then be conveniently shifted on Awami League's shoulder. This is not likely to work at all.

Against the backdrop of such a mutually contradictory scenario the crisis precipitating in an abhorring rapidity is most likely to take the country to a point of no return. And when the situation goes out of control due to the present state of indifference and intransigent attitude of the government a hellish tragedy is sure to befall on the nation. The government leaders are expected to display the desired sensibility and prudence in tackling the fast waning situation. The damage already done to the image of the government by the CEC can still be repaired. Since the reform proposals on the system of caretaker government and on the election commission have already turned out to be a very urgent national issue and since, at certain point the government also expressed its willingness to discuss and to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution, there is no point in being stubborn and arrogant on the composition of the committee. It must be realised that any dilly-dallying over the reform proposal can push the country to a catastrophe.

Time is running out fast. If there is real good intention of the government the reform issue will have to be settled now and before the present term of the government ends. Because the changes that would emanate from the discussion and agreed upon, will require consequent amendment of the existing provisions. That means the present parliament, will have to be in session to make such amendments.

If in the worst option, the present 4-party alliance or for that matter, the government are nursing any intention to go for next election unilaterally ignoring the major opposition party and the 14-party alliance keeping them out of the run it shall be a shameless replication of 15 February, 1996 election. Time has changed radically and no contrivance at creating a 'B' team for an opposition will work this time. The eyes of almost the whole western countries, the donor agencies, the ADB, the World Bank are intensely focussed on our next election. No sort of fabrication and election engineering shall hopefully escape their notice. If it is otherwise our national prestige and credibility will be at a stake. There is a persistent demand from the donors for such a government as would reflect without prejudice, the genuine opinion of the people. As a pre-condition, therefore, they have time and again insisted that all the contesting parties to the election get fair and equal opportunities in the next election.

But, looking around, there is practically no sign or indication from the government machinery towards ensuring such a most desired and ideal situation. The liability certainly devolves upon the government, atleast the majority part of it. There is unfortunately no preparation in this regard. On the contrary, the nation continues to witness a literal fiesta of state and inconsistent words from the government party leaders much to their listeners' discontent. This is indeed ridiculous and hence must be effectively discarded to avoid endless controversies now contaminating the sanctity of our hard-earned nationhood.

Kazi Alauddin Ahmed is a management consultant.