Editorial
Annoyance is not enough
PM should take action against aberrant minister and MP
AGRICULTURE Minister Matia Chowdhury has informed the nation about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's annoyance at the behaviour of a minister and a ruling Awami League lawmaker at the recent upazila elections. That is as it should be, for no individual holding a responsible position should be allowed to do anything that is unethical and unbecoming of his or her position. What Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas did is unpardonable and so is the behaviour of the young MP from Cox's Bazar-4. In this regard, the assertion of the prime minister that the Election Commission is free to take action against these two individuals is welcome and we hope an example is set that will act as a deterrence against similar activities by anyone in future.
On top of the action contemplated by the Election Commission, it should now be for the Awami League to take action against the minister and the lawmaker for bringing the party into disrepute barely a fortnight after a free and transparent general election that voted it into power. The public expectation that the upazila elections would be conducted in a similar fashion has in many instances been belied by the unruly behaviour of some ruling party members and their supporters. Further, there is the feeling that where a caretaker government can ensure good elections, a party government turns out to be sadly remiss when it comes its turn to see elections through. It is an image which surely reflects badly on political parties and unless such a practice is eschewed, it will have bad repercussions for democracy. Since the Awami League, with its allies, rode to power through an impeccably conducted general elections on December 29, the onus is now on its leadership to reassure citizens that the slow, painstaking road to democracy inaugurated so recently does not develop any cracks or potholes.
We expect the new government to ensure good governance, fundamentally because we think a fresh new opportunity has come before the country to give itself a political system based on respect for citizens' views and adherence to the rule of law. In line with such expectations, we believe the new men and women in office will resist any temptation towards adopting a culture of denial and will instead go for a swift, judicious handling of any aberrant behaviour.
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