Political Fiasco and People’s Plight in Bangladesh

The people of Bangladesh are into the grinding machine of the major political parties of the country at the moment. We are all concerned about the way out sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, not enough hope is being foreseen by us, the common people of the country.

The source of the stalemate grew from the 15th amendment of the constitution without taking the major opposition parties into confidence. The ruling coalition couldn’t have done this given that there was enough strength of leverage on the part of the opposition. Can we conclude that a landslide in favour of one party or a like-minded group of parties is bad for democracy and the people?

There is another allegation that the recommendation of the respective Parliamentary Committee was not listened and cared to the amendment of the constitution. So there is another question of maintaining proper procedure relating to the parliamentary activities. What is the use of establishing parliamentary committees if they are not listened to!

However, taking the opposition into confidence for such matters is very important in a democracy especially when their strength is not that insignificant to be ignored. Now the common people are bearing the brunt of the opposition.

We like to vehemently condemn the way the opposition parties are protesting the government’s actions. In no way it is acceptable that they hit the vehicles and burn the people.

It seems that they are taking revenge not for scrapping the caretaker system of polls time government rather the verdicts of the International Crime’s Tribunal. It is because we never have seen such violence in any opposition protests in recent times not even in the four decades of our independence.

Now, what would be the way out from the current stalemate? One way may be giving in to the opposition demand either by scrapping the 15th amendment or least handing over the Prime Ministerial position of the polls time government to a mutually acceptable person. Otherwise, the writer of this piece doesn’t believe the situation of the political and public life would improve much.

One sided polls won’t be acceptable to the general public of the country as well as the international community. Playing the JP-Ershad card cannot give the expected outcome. It’s already a blunder. Even if JP (Ershad) goes into polls, the opposition won’t stop their violent protest and they will continue it as long as they can as it is observed.

Much of the opposition’s strength comes from Jamaat. And you cannot detach their partnership, not very soon at least when they need each other most.

We don’t know if BNP would be ready to go for polls even without their blessed partnership with Jamaat. We can’t conclude if that’s one of the main reasons for them not to accept the All Parties Polls Time Government given the situation when Jamaat is declared ineligible for the polls.

Isn’t it a good solution to get a neutral person as the polls time chief executive of the government? How about if it is the Speaker of the Parliament or any other mutually acceptable person?

We know that the government is able to do with the election no matter what. But we fear that without the participation of the main opposition parties the people of the country would not be able to be freed from the violent protests, killing, arsons and blockades and countrywide strikes. So everything good achieved so far will diminish in the long run.

Shouldn’t we do what is the best for the country and the people?

There is an important concern about the proceedings of International Crimes Tribunal. If Sheikh Hasina steps down to any mutually acceptable person, the tribunal may be stopped by him/her immediately. At least the writer of this article feels like that. And we all understand the eventuality of the tribunal proceedings if AL defeats in the upcoming election when it must need at least a few months to complete the ongoing proceedings.