As the army-backed caretaker government of Bangladesh start inviting sidelined political parties for talk, there are four challenges; the interim government of Bangladesh is to overcome. These are the successful end of on going political dialogue, the budget for fiscal year 2008-09, an acceptable parliamentary election and of course smooth exit of the unelected government. With those challenges the annual report of Amnesty International emerged as an extra pressure for the administration.
Government and Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh are engaged in a process of Election since One/Eleven of 2007, the day of taking power of present military backed interim government. To make the election acceptable to all, EC discussed with the political parties and other concerned groups twice and informed the Government and the Presidency about the out come of meetings.
Accordingly government has started Dialogue with the political parties from May 22, 2008. As of today (29 May 2008) half a dozen political parties have been participated the Dialogue and expressed their opinion. Major political parties like Bangladesh Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamate Islami Bangladesh (popularly known as JAMAT), Jatio Party (JP) have no willingness to join the dialogue yet.
AL leadership was scared about to take any decision from top level ignoring grassroots leaders as the supreme leader Sheikh Hasina is in imprisonment. To overcome the situation, AL leadership convened meeting of grassroots leaders and then working committee gathered to take decision on dialogue issue on the basis of the sprit of grassroots level opinion. AL working committee came in to a decision that without Sheikh Hasina the Party will not participate in Dialogue and they will inform the government about the decision by a letter very soon.
BNP on the other hand, though apparently is not organised as AL, is also of the opinion that they will not take part in the dialogue. They are also saying that without Begume Khaled Zia, the Supremo of the party, BNP will not take part in the dialogue. JAMAT, the fundamentalist party and major ally of BNP led four-party alliance, was silent about the dialogue. After the arrest of the Amir of JAMAT on a corruption case, this political force said that they are not joining in the dialogue. Other allies of four-party alliance are not happy to the decision taken by others. JP is confused about their unwillingness.
It is a fact that AL and BNP is the main factor of the politics of Bangladesh. If one of these two parties disagrees to join in Dialogue and election, this process will be a farce to the nation and international community as well. About the decision of AL on Dialogue, observers said that from jail Sheikh Hasina took the strategy to show her respect to the democratic process of her party and the senior leaders of AL are also took the strategy to show the loyalty to the party president.
Political analysts said that if Sheikh Hasina permits to take part in dialogue without her presence, AL will sit with the government. If AL sit together with the government, it would be wise for BNP to join in the dialogue. Analysts also said that the aspiration of people should be honoured by the larger political parties instead of Party Vanity. Government should also progress through a similar manner. Obviously the people of Bangladesh are waiting for an acceptable election by December 2008 as of the roadmap of EC.
Any way, Government is considering AL decision on dialogue as a political pressure. Government sources said that as a major party AL has the ability to put pressure and they did so. One of the Advisors of interim government said that finally all political parties would join the dialogue and Bangladesh will be a sustainable Democracy through a free and fair election; which is also the expectation of the people of Bangladesh. Now the question is that how sincere effort would be taken to overcome the challenge from the government part.
Overcoming of this challenge is very important for the interim government because of the issue related to smooth exit of the government. This special type of government is reforming many rules, laws and procedures. For the Reform, government had to make laws in the form of Ordinance. After the parliamentary election, politicians are the key players to make a pavement for the interim government to exit without any political, administrative and legal liability. The government should also be assured that the reform process they have started would not be abandoned by the political government. So it should be believed that a successful dialogue is important for a successful election.
Upcoming budget is also another challenge for the interim government. As of the custom of the Country, annual budget should be declared on first week of June, which will be implemented from 1st of July. As pert the roadmap and the expectation of the people, upcoming budget will be implemented by two governments i.e. the interim government and the elected government. If the political economy of the budget would not be able to fulfill the expected level of Growth Rate and fail to create an atmosphere, where general people especially the middleclass and the poor could live in without the pressure of high price of consumables and unemployment, the interim government will be blamed for the budget.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has released Human Rights Reports 2007. The report, on Bangladesh, cited the violation of human rights by law enforcement agencies, unnatural death under custody, detention of politicians & businessmen, bar on political activities, unseen interference on media and demolition of slums without rehabilitation of the slum dwellers was the unwanted happenings as per Human Rights standard. The report also expressed concern about price hick and overall human rights situation.
Amnesty International Report has the reputation and acceptance to the people of Bangladesh and among the donors, development partners and international community which has the ability to influence concerned parties to make the support weaker or stronger to the activities of interim government. That is why Bangladesh government has to open an eye to watch the impact of Amnesty International Report.
In consideration of the present situation of Bangladesh, the military backed interim government has to face the facts with sincerity and wisdom. The political parties should act as per the aspiration of people. Only that could be leading Bangladesh to a successful Election which could be started a culture of democrat practice in politics, administration and in the society.
- The author of this article is a senior Political Analyst and Free lance writer on National and International issues based in Dhaka Bangladesh -
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