The case against minister Latif Biswas
It is a test for both EC and AL government
THE Election Commission has filed a case against Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas on the charge that the minister interfered in voting for the upazilla elections in Belkuchi on January 22. Indeed, since Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda made it publicly known at the end of the voting on the day that the minister had violated the electoral code of conduct, Biswas has been under a cloud. Now the suit against him by the EC makes it clear that the electoral body means to see the whole business through.
It is our opinion that the case against the minister and his associates (among whom is his daughter) should proceed to a logical conclusion. It is a test case for the Election Commission in that through prosecuting the charges against the minister, it must convince people that it means business and that in future no one, no matter how powerful or influential, will think of trifling with electoral rules and regulations. In similar manner, the filing of the case will also test the resolve of the ruling Awami League on its pledge to bring about qualitative change in society. The government and especially Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have recently informed the nation that there will be no interference in the course of action the EC might take against minister Biswas. With the case now filed against the minister, the people of the country will want to see proof that the government lives up to its promise through maintaining absolute neutrality in the matter and allowing the EC to do what it must without putting up any roadblocks before it.
An absolute need today is to convince the nation that the various laws in force in Bangladesh can actually be implemented to public satisfaction. It is not important whether a thousand laws are in the statute books, it is rather that a single one of those laws is implemented. In the present instance, if in the ultimate sense judgement goes against the minister and so against the ruling party, it will be evidence of the primacy of the law being an underpinning of governance in Bangladesh. A violation of the electoral code of conduct, like the violation of any other law, is a serious offence. And because it is, we expect both the EC and the government to ensure that the case against the minister sends out the message that no individual or institution can break it and then expect to get away with it. The EC's stance at this point should be regarded as a symbolic act which can rekindle our belief in the supremacy of the law.
As the case gets under way, we must point out that the minister must not be prejudged and must be given all legal measures to defend himself. Additionally, we suggest that in the interest of a fair trial, the minister resign from the cabinet. He can return to it once and if his name is cleared. Such an act will set a new, encouraging precedent for those holding high office in the country.
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