Twenty-two months into our current caretaker administration, we have with us an election schedule that keeps on changing many times a week. The glimmer of hope towards the eventual transfer of power to an elected government becomes that much more uncertain with each such exercise.
This is probably the only country in the civilized world where external dictates override pledges and announcements made by the Head of a Government and the Chief of an Election Commission. Expediency and the need to give in to unjustified demands continue to make a simple step more complex. This is disappointing to say the least. One prepares oneself to play football with certain rules of engagement in mind, including where the goalposts are to be located on the field. After this one proceeds to the playground, ready to play soccer or British 'football' as one understands it. On the contrary one arrives and discovers that it will be "American football' with a different kind of ball. Such a situation definitely impairs a meaningful commitment.
As an ordinary citizen, I feel worried with our electoral process. It appears to be so much removed from what has happened elsewhere in South Asia over the last year. In the recent past, we have had credible elections in Pakistan, Nepal and the Maldives. People have voted there and re-affirmed their faith in the democratic process. These elections have led to important political transformations-- to civilian rule from a junta Presidency in Pakistan, to the abolition of a monarchy and the initiation of a republican administration in Nepal and to a changeover of the Presidency after three decades in the Maldives. Significant advances in the structure of governance, to say the least.
We have also watched the making of history in the United States. More than 130 million Americans, both inside and outside the United States, in an atmosphere characterized by joy, competition and transparency exercised their rights and demonstrated once again the power of the ordinary people as opposed to that of behind the scene lobbyists with their own personal agendas. The electronic media monitored every aspect of the electoral process for nearly one year and revealed how basic denominators related to the spirit of democratic governance can be consistent with constitutional provisions. There was participation without threats and undue requests from the political actors. There was respect for institutions and the due process of law. Electoral schedules decided upon did not become the subject of controversy.
Unfortunately, that has not been so in Bangladesh. Nearly two years into the lifetime of a non-elected government, the population has watched with dismay the continuous shifting of goal posts. Unnecessarily, lack of transparency has only enhanced debate among some and raised questions about possible hidden agendas among others. I myself would like to believe that such anxiety is misplaced and that this has just been an example of poor management.
Politics, the political process and the associated factors have been the principal focus of attention both in the print and the electronic media in Bangladesh over the last few months. There have also been many interesting interviews not only with personalities involved with politics from different political parties-- the Bangladesh Awami League, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the JSD, The Jatiyo Party, the Gano Forum, the Bikalpo Dhara, the LDP, the Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Kalyan Party etc. but also with academics and those in the media. There have also been numerous op-ed articles in the English and Bangla newspapers.
Many agree that this interim government has scored a few plus points in their score card-- the revision of the voter list; the initiation of ID Cards with photographs and the re-constitution of important constitutional bodies. However, there has also been criticism in the manner in which the present 'military-backed' government has supposedly interfered in the internal affairs of some of the political parties and 'allegedly' tampered indirectly with the judicial process in the name of introducing 'balance' within the electoral matrix.
Some of these steps have quite justifiably introduced qualms within the body-politic of the country. In addition to raising questions about the upholding of the rule of law, there have also been accusations that this government has 'renewed the license of identified corrupt people, known killers and war criminals to operate in the political field' (Hasanul Huq Inu, leader of the JSD).
Keeping the emergency provisions in place has also come under fire and reviews have pointed out that this step of last measure failed to create the desired impact in the matter of curbing the use of 'black' money and activities of known criminals during the recently concluded municipal elections in different districts. In fact Transparency International, the corruption watch-dog, has also made it clear that despite the presence of emergency and the well-publicized anti-corruption drive, the pervasive nature of corruption at the grass roots level has expanded. From that point of view emergency has proved to be fallible.
We need the election, sooner the better. In this context I urge the government to lift the restrictive nature of the emergency regulations immediately (which they have already promised), open the windows and the doors and let the fresh breath of freedom waft into our electoral arena without any further delay. This will avoid unnecessary subsequent accusation from particular parties who fail to do as well as they had anticipated.
The need to retain the comprehensive nature of the emergency provisions for the purpose of maintaining law and order has also lost its basis given the latest statement by the Home Adviser. He has pointed out that due to alternative strategic planning, 'law and order situation will not worsen even if emergency is lifted'. Such a step would also make the electoral process more acceptable and consistent with international expectations -- external monitors from the US-based NDI, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the European Union and observers from the United Nations.
The Election Commission has now announced once again fresh dates and another new schedule. One can only hope that all political parties (instead of resorting to further conditionalities) will now take necessary steps to meaningfully engage in the electoral process. The people of this country want an election and an elected government. I can only hope that despite all the complexities, the Election Commission can deliver such a credible and fair poll.
I know that there are still several difficulties related to the distribution and availability of the voter list in all areas. There is also the question of having transparent voting boxes in place in all the voting centers. These are administrative decisions. There are also questions related to voter intimidation, the use of black money and associated problems arising out of new delimitation of constituencies.
One expects however that the Election Commission in cooperation with the relevant agencies of government will take suitable steps to raise the moral threshold and make the entire polls a believable exercise. We must not fail to restore the train onto the track.
(Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador and can be reached at mzamir@dhaka.net) |