Perspectives
The brouhaha over a trifle
The caretaker government's dialogue with political stakeholders is tapering towards a denouement, with an odd few still opting out of it. The BNP, with a bruised image and wobbly organisation, has preferred to reject both the dialogue and the election unless its supremo is unconditionally freed from her incarceration.
The party supreme herself demanded her indicted sons' release from detention, and their treatment abroad, as a pre-condition for her participation. A positive response from the authorities, if any, is awaited.
In the meantime, the caretaker government itself has caused fresh controversy by declaring the polls schedule for four municipal corporations and nine municipalities. It also plans to hold upazilla elections in October. The decision to hold local bodies' election before the parliamentary election has flummoxed all and sundry.
All worthwhile political parties have protested against the decision. The BNP and several other political outfits indicated their unwillingness to participate in local bodies poll on the plea that the caretaker government was not mandated to hold such election.
This is, indeed, an unpleasant development, which has brought political forces again in confrontation with the establishment. The latter is, however, well armed with the arguments in favour of its action. It argues that this election is after all an apolitical exercise, and in no way affects the national election in December.
The arguments do not placate the anxiety of the political parties, which have been seized afresh with crisis of confidence. To some of them it smacks of intrigue at the behest of foreign powers.
True, the election for local bodies is fought without political labels. But at the end of the day, the contestants are all political -- supported by party men at grassroots level. If this election is left free for all, observers reckon that the charlatans, opportunists and elements out to grab the chance will occupy this vital space of national politics and eventually pollute it, something neither the public nor the establishment will relish in the long run.
Equally untenable is the argument that the caretaker government is not mandated to hold the local bodies election. By now none should be in doubt that the present government has been doing many things it is not mandated to do, and with popular support.
It's because we are passing through unusual times that the challenges have to be met with extraordinary means. Interestingly, the party, which catalysed this unusual situation by planning a scripted election on January 22, 2007, is most vocal in opposing the government's effort of transferring power to the government elected on a level playing ground.
Had there been no behind the scene intrigue by the BNP-Jamaat dispensation to prolong power perpetually, there wouldn't have been a situation which demanded the additional burden of all these extra-constitutional steps.
The nation is at a crossroads today, where it is willy-nilly redefining itself. Any metamorphosis is painful, and we are experiencing that with the socio-political problems deepening and the economic outlook turning bleak.
There isn't any reason for despair, but the country can't afford to undergo fresh controversies over trifles. The interim government is grappling with all the piled up problems left behind by a failed government run by the BNP-led alliance. It is neither capable, nor designed, to address all the problems facing the country. The BNP and its garrulous secretary general may be doing well in scoring extra political mileage or garnering lost support, but at what cost?
The impending transition to a democratic order through an election with the participation of all political forces is much more crucial than being penny wise pound foolish. It is more important to seize the opportunity than to get bogged down in meaningless debate with regard to the priority accorded to this or that election.
Enough wounds have already been inflicted on the country's body politic. Now lets make it a healing time. It's good that the AL has decided in favour of participation in municipal polls, and the authorities have also agreed to partially relax the emergency during the election.
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