Editorial
BNP, Jamaat talks with the government
Bargaining too hard could only be counter-productive
NOT unexpectedly, the talks between the caretaker government and the BNP and its alliance member Jamaat did not produce any results on Tuesday. Obviously, mere understanding between the two sides on making the polls free and fair, and ensuring a level playing field, did not provide answers to the questions raised by BNP bargaining hard all the way.
The party seemed determined to fulfil its seven-point demand, regardless of the government's conciliatory mood manifest in its overall position. The Election Commission has extended the time for the political parties' registration by five days and is ready to accept an interim constitution of any party adapting to the changes prescribed in the RPO with the proviso that the party will make it permanent within six months. So there is no sign of imposing anything that the parties cannot possibly comply with.
All this is aimed at holding the election on time and in a free and fair manner, which for obvious reasons should also be the prime concern close to the hearts of the parties. However, people would expect such concern to be reflected in the way the parties work to attain their objectives. Practically, a dialogue cannot be a one-sided affair where a party or the government will decide unilaterally what should be done to put the country back on the democratic track.
The goal is clear enough not to be confused with any partisan political expediency. And if give-and-take is quintessential to interaction with the government, we really cannot see what the BNP or the Jamaat is giving while asking for a lot.
After all that the country has been through in the last nearly two years, people would at least expect the parties to come with a very clear position. The BNP has demanded unconditional release of all "political prisoners". This is an example of partisan interests overshadowing even the understanding of how the law should be enforced. In the first place, people accused of corruption, and some of them have already been convicted, can by no means be treated as political prisoners. And the BNP cannot be unaware that corruption assumed unmanageable proportions during the four-party alliance government's tenure. So how can it demand release of those convicted of corruption without being conspicuously disrespectful of the legal process?
Return to democracy is now a top national priority. The political parties should move in that direction without losing sight of our (theirs too) goal.
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