As of the happenings in the political ambiance it seems that the interim government of Bangladesh is going to face a hard couple of week, which should be manage through honesty, skill and wisdom.
In Bangladesh two top leaders, Sheikh Hasina and Begume Khaleda Zia - the two former Prime Minister was taken in imprisonment with the charge of corruption along with few other leaders of their respective parties i.e. Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). After imprisonment cases were filed against them and as a matter of legal procedure High Court (HC) Division of Bangladesh Supreme Court (SC) issued directives or order to stop or suspend procedure of several cases. Recently Appellate Division of SC gave the opinion that the order or directives of the HC on Sheik Hasina’s cases is canceled. As of the SC order now there is no bar for farther procedure of the concerned cases filed against the former premier.
Another premier Khaleda Zia was not under definite legal procedure for a long time though she was detained. Very recently Begume Zia is also come under particular legal proceedings. Political observers and analysts said that yet these two leaders have that much of support among the workers of their respective party and people of the country which could make difficult the polite ending of legal procedure which have been started after the famous One/Eleven. The government and related authorities should handle the issue properly, justly and wisely. Other wise there must be a negative impact on the process of change to a Democracy.
As a process of change Bangladesh to a Democracy, there is the commitment of the interim government, the Election Commission (EC) and other authorities that a national election would be held on December 2008. As per the commitment, a road map was declared by the EC and implementation of the road map was keenly supported by the military and other professionals. Few days ago Chief Election Commissioner meets President along with other Commissioners and apprises President about the implementation status of road map and assured that National Election will be held on or before December 2008.
Chief Advisor (CA), the Chief Executive of the interim government had also a meeting with the President recently. Press reports said Chief Advisor apprises President about the government initiatives including the out come of recently concluded pre-dialogue talks with the political parties. As saying by the government Advisors, CA is preparing for a speech to nation, in which he will declare the schedule of the long waited Dialogue between the government and the political parties.
Once it was assumed and told by the authorities that EC and concerned authorities will take initiative of local body elections from April/May of 2008 part by part over the country where the voter list can be finalised. Any way this was not came into reality. Presently the concentrations are on National Election, but there is a demand from local body leaders that local body election should be concluded before Parliamentary Election. As a result government and related authorities are in a bit under pressure about the issue.
Political parties are preparing for Dialogue and agitation simultaneously. AL and front organisations of the party have already been started observing political programs in various from in favor of their demand. On the other hand Secretary General of Khaleda loyalist BNP told to the press that without the Chairman of his party they will not intending to participate in Dialogue. Acting President of AL also stated that they would like to see their leader free immediately and they are also not intending to join the dialogue without their leader.
It could be told that, AL will go for dialogue and agitation, Khaleda loyalist BNP may be taking a position of hard line. Few other leftist parties and group are demanding for national election as soon as possible and obviously they have alignment to AL as most of them are the partners of 14-party alliance. About election a comment of Mr. Saifur Rahman, the former Finance Minister of Begume Zia Cabunat, one of the oldest leaders of BNP known as reformist, could be taken in to account with due importance. Very recently he told to the newsmen that unconditional release of Begume Zia is essential and legitimate demand but no one should stand on a hard line that with out Begume Zia party never go for any election.
By all considerations, there is a very big pressure on the government to meet the commitment that changing Bangladesh in a Democracy. Government should face the challenge skillfully, wisely and honestly.
|
|
Comments:
