Editorial
CA's all-important speech in the works
He should rise to the occasion
Since his take-over of the reins of government in January last, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed is perhaps going to make the most important speech of his tenure. Well past the half-way point of a two-year roadmap for return to democracy through credible elections based on reforms, he has the dual task of responding to public questions about the scorecard of his government vis-à-vis the priority areas of its responsibility and inspiring the nation to support the changes his government has already brought about and the plethora of electoral and political reforms that must be carried out if we are not to return to status quo ante.
What the people would like to see in his speech is not a stale reflection of popular aspirations, or reiteration of commitments that have become cliches through overuse, but very much a concrete action plan for transition to meaningful and effective democracy. He has to match the public expectations for withdrawal of restrictions on politics including progressive relaxation of emergency provisions to allow a freer atmosphere for election campaigns and media reporting. The CA's speech must spell out a timetable for these changes to come about thereby creating a positive and electrifying ambience rightly focused on the general election. The CA may even like to give indicative dates for announcement of election schedule by the EC through consultation with the latter.
His advisers have set a scene for dialogue with political parties. Now the Chief Adviser is expected to announce the dates for initiation of the formal dialogue process. He may not be in a position to set the agenda for talks, but at the very least he must give a framework for the dialogue. In the pre-dialogue sittings with the advisers, political party representatives as well as voicing some concerns have thrown up ideas of reform. It is a tall order for the CA to strike a balance between competing demands and envision through his speech a direction that his government would take in the remainder of its tenure to accomplish the tasks set before it.
Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has to live up to the requirements of the situation and deliver a speech which addresses the issues that are closest to the heart of the people. He must make preparations for the speech in consultation with his cabinet colleagues, and even going beyond, so that his speech squares comprehensively with the need of the hour. His speech is too important to risk failure because its audience will be not only national but also international. The whole world is looking towards Bangladesh for the way it takes democracy ahead.
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