Opinion
Let our resolve remain firm
ON the t of 1/11 when President and the then CA of CTG declared that he had relinquished the post of CA and imposed state of emergency the whole nation practically heaved a sigh of relief that the country was thus spared a brewing holocaust being pushed to by the two main political parties always at daggers drawn over the issue of holding national polls that remained just a fortnight away.
Election is an essential part of a democratic process. But why often a sort of malignant madness is let loose in our electioneering? The simple answer is that our democratic culture has degenerated to a bottom low where 'the winner takes it all.'
The new CTG headed by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, landed with a mammoth public support. They declared a crusade against corruption, pledged to bring out much needed democratic reforms in the political parties, restoration of institutions like Election Commission, Anti-corruption Commission, separation of lower Judiciary from the Executive, independent workable Public Service Commission, overhauling NBR etc that were practically grossly politicised by the erstwhile government.
Even practical execution, in some cases, were not long in coming. Bigwigs of both the two main political parties along with some other parties, were huddled in quick succession into jails proving that nobody is above law. Even the two erstwhile PMs were put under bars on charge of extorting subscriptions. Separation of judiciary from the executive that remained elusive by the previous governments on flimsy pretext was achieved to create a rare milestone. Like achievements in some other fields were also gained, which the elected governments kept left out on this plea or that.
Any work, public related and sensitive, is hard to achieve. Who can deny that reforms, however sound, noble and benevolent, may fail when carried out against the wishes and sentiments of the people. As far back as in the 14th century the most erudite monarch Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq attempted most logical and ahead of age reforms like transfer of capital and introduction of token currency but these failed miserably as the people were not convinced of their merits. To be effective reforms need to be taken with a 'human face'.
It is clear that the CTG was inducted to power primarily to save the nation from a bloody confrontation and then present a credible election to it. They must have a chart of missions on priority order. It seems certain they were first to cleanse up the political augean stable heaped up with filth accumulated over decades, particularly in the last tenure of the alliance government.
The unscrupulous corrupt politicians of all ilks (not many from Jamaat-e-Islami) irrespective of their ranks and positions were herded into custody, tried in the speedy tribunal and in most cases sentenced to different terms and pay fines with confiscation of property. However, contrary to public expectations, the bureaucrats, the police, the custom officials, the lower judiciary etc who, however do not enjoy any better reputation of being corruption free, are yet to face measures, of course barring a few. It seemingly warrants disproportionate dispensation.
The plenipotentiaries of the CTG are aware that they have some most vital tasks to perform within a time-schedule that can never be extended beyond a very compulsive time restraint. Practically it cannot be denied that our erstwhile ruling political parties put the nation in disarray darkening its image abroad as much as trouncing the country to be the most corrupt in the world in four successive years. Still the CTG cannot remain in power beyond the period it itself stipulated. It stressed most upon the need of doing reforms within the political parties in their constitution and day-to-day behavioural manners to end authoritarianism in the party setup and abide by democratic norms.
For long all major parties have made a fanfare of injecting democratic values in their party constitutions, but has anything tangible come out till now? The Election Commission (EC) stressed over sitting with parties in dialogues to facilitate further reforms in the party constitutions, but to what effect till date? What virtue did it (EC) discover in inviting one faction of the BNP apparently discarding the other divide? The only result that veritably accrued is undesirable controversy that lengthened out to take refuge to the Higher Court consuming enough time whereas time constraint is so acute.
Long before, immediately after the installation of the CTG a formula of 'minus two' got afloat in the political arena. Who was its exponent and what was his motive? Without wasting time over this dubious idea it can be safely concluded that it perhaps is a wrong concept wrongly purported to be thrust upon the two major political parties perhaps with the only repercussion of eroding the credibility of administration along with the parties' in the eye of people.
Second, emerged the idea of forming a national government that also seems to be fizzling out. The Law adviser says there is no such provision in the constitution. Third appeared floating new political parties under seemingly obedient, gullible leaders in the name of pure democratic disposition. And as those ideas seem to be falling far behind the expected results, the rather stereotyped plan of constituting a national security council comprising representatives from different tiers of the government happens to be there.
The CTG has already spent fourteen months and perhaps only a few months are left out to perform its tasks. Obviously the time ahead appears hard and problem-strewn. Yet it has little scope for time extension. The US, European Union with other potent countries of the world have apparently put pressure to stick to its own enunciated roadmap to election. It is therefore hoped that the CTG will stick to its repeatedly pronounced mission of holding a credible national election and will not get involved in activities that may hinder its prime motto.
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