A NEW AND PERHAPS HOPEFUL PHASE IN BANGLADESH POLITICS

ABDUL GAFFAR CHOUDHURY

Bangladesh election of 5th January is still stirring debate and discussion among my friend circle in London also. Among them some are journalists. The common question is how long this government will last and if BNP could bounce back again as an opposition party. Some of my journalist friends quote what Tofail Ahmed said recently, “This government will be in power for the next 5 years”. They asked me whether this government’s real intention is to continue in power that long. I am not a spokesman for this government. I answer these questions from common sense as a journalist from Bangladesh. My answer is very simple. If a government claims they are democratic they cannot hold the power at their whim. They will have to consider public opinion; especially this is a must for this government. Because even though the election was legal but it was not a normal one and this government’s fate depends on their performance. Sheikh Hasina’s last government did tremendous development work, but they failed to fulfil people’s aspiration in regards to good governance.

The government’s failure to bring to justice the people involved in big corruption, to establish law and order firmly and to curb the anti-people activities of some of its ministers and MPs were responsible for its declining popularity. The present government should restore public confidence in them and assure the people that they can ensure good governance for them.

If the satisfied people approve their staying in power for the next five years they can stay, otherwise after a year or two they should consider holding a midterm election. Before that they should make it certain that corruption and terrorism is curbed, the fear of uprising of ultra-fundamentalist parties like Jamaat are no more threatening the democratic statehood of Bangladesh, and all the political parties would join the election including BNP.

They should also expedite the trial of the 71’s war criminals. If BNP has learnt a lesson from their failure in their last movement against election they should come forward for a dialogue with the government and participate in the next election. Last Thursday, 6th February, Begum Khaleda Zia held a press conference at a Dhaka hotel and said that she is reorganizing her party now and after that she will launch another movement against the government and would not talk about dialogue or negotiation anymore.

This is not a good sign for the recovery of a big political party. BNP should now assess their past major mistakes including joining with Jamaat and going for terrorism in the name of movement, they should not insist to hold the next election again under a caretaker government which proved to be a failed system in the past. Instead they should insist for the certainty of a free and fair election from the government with a strong team of observers from the outside world if necessary.

What BNP has done in the last six months with Jamaat is to create a reign of terror in the country by terrorizing people, which has blackened their democratic credentials greatly. By repeating this mistake again and according to Begum Zia’s recent press conference this is what seems to be on the party’s agenda-it will certainly diminish their chance of winning the next election.

We may have a forecast of our political weather in near future in the upcoming Upazilla elections. It is a good decision that BNP is joining this election without any dilly-dallying tactics. They should follow this constitutional pattern of politics in relation to future general election without indulging in terrorist activities.

For shaping of the democratic future of the country Awami League has the greater responsibility. The formation of the present ministry is praiseworthy and people are looking towards them with hope and expectations. So the ministers should not utter any irresponsible comments which may create disillusionment in the public mind. Recently our finance minister Muhit and health minister Md. Nasim have repeated the utterances of Tofail Ahmed. These two ministers also said the next election will be held after 5 years which means they want to remain in power for the full term. Is there a necessity to comment on this government’s future so soon? This is an unnecessary provocation to the largest opposition alliance which is not yet ready to digest their present debacle. If people are satisfied with this government’s performance and allow them to stay in power for full term then there is no problem. The ministers need not think it is their natural right and boast about it. They should assure the people and their critics home and abroad that if there is a sign that people do not approve their staying in power for the full term, then they will arrange a mid-term election to get the people’s mandate again.

Before that a favourable condition should be created by the government to enthuse BNP, the largest opposition group though they are not in the Sangsad now, to come out from the influence of Jamaat and to return to the democratic fold. This will need more persuasion and negotiation. Government should not use threat -vocal or otherwise to bring BNP to negotiating table.  Now there are most experienced parliamentarians in the present Hasina government. They should take the initiative to have a proper dialogue with BNP and to ensure a proper election in near future with the participation of all the parties.  If our Sangsad is always dominated by a party with brute majority or the Sangsad has vacant seats in the opposition or a lame duck opposition occupy those vacant seats, a healthy democracy can not flourish in the country. Now we have come to a situation when both the government and opposition parties can reassess their present positions, correct their past mistakes, and combine their efforts to build up a healthy democracy.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, along with leaders with other political parties should rethink their past and choose the correct path for their future. Though the election of 5th January seems to be still a controversial one, it has created a new phase in Bangladesh politics that has immense possibility if our leaders can handle it with care and wisdom.

The post election situation has freed the country from terrorism and opened the gate for political dialogue for all the parties. Leaving aside personal issues and bickering at each other, our political leaders should have the courage to come out of their old shells and invite one another for a real dialogue which can ensure a peaceful, democratic future for the country.

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February 07, 2014