There are confusions about a fruitful dialog between the government and the politicians on national election, reforms of political process and electoral methods and democracy in the people of Bangladesh.
In spite of confusions, the interim government of Bangladesh has started a pre-dialog conversation with political parties. It is true that before January 11, 2007 political situation of the country was chaotic, full of clash, conflict and disagreements.
In this background present interim government came into power, without any time bar, with the support of military and welcomed by the intellectuals, the media, and civil society and obviously by mass people.
After taking over the power, state of emergency was declared and constitutional bodies like Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Election Commission (EC) and few others were reconstituted or/and restructured & reformed. For rapid establishment of democracy reformed EC declared a road map heading to the parliamentary election by or before December 2008.
As the roadmap is too long in comparison of previous experience, people of all walks are a little bit confused; though Chief Advisor of the interim government and the Chief of Army Staff have affirmed that road would be strictly flowed and there should be no confusion about holding a national election as per the EC road map.
In view of electoral process reform and on the issue of registration of political parties, EC convened dialog twice with the political parties. All but Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Begume Khaleda Zia was not attending the EC convened dialog owing to leadership crisis in BNP since the detention of Begume Zia.
Just before the detention of Mrs. Zia appointed Kh. Delower Hussain as Secretary General by replacing almost decade long General Secretary Mr. Abdul Mannan Bhuyan. Mr. Bhuyan and his heavy weight allies of BNP leadership appointed former army Major Hafiz as secretary general.
On that standpoint EC become confused to invite BNP in the dialog and finally EC invited Major Hafiz to join the dialog. But a writ petition in High Court in this regard by Begume Zia bars him to participate in the dialog organized by EC. Here should be mentioned that any election, dialog or political initiative except Awami League (AL) or BNP, the largest two political parties, would be a fruitless event in Bangladesh. This very issue was and is in the consideration of EC and government.
At last, High Court gave the verdict that the writ of Begume Zia was not a matter of court to decide. By this verdict EC become free to call any part or both part of BNP to join dialog with EC. The EC is insisting BNP to join the dialog combined.
After the court verdict Mr. Hafiz, Standing committee appointed Secretary General of BNP expressed his satisfaction. On the other hand Kh. Delower Hossain, Begume Zia appointed General Secretary of BNP said that a conspiracy is going on to break BNP in to several pieces. Any way it is hoped that at least one of the BNP pieces would join in the dialog.
There is another significant event in the politics of Bangladesh is a pre-dialog meeting of an advisor of government with a group of central leader of AL. Official leadership of AL said that they were unaware about this meeting. The leaders participated in the pre-dialog meeting were grilled by other comrades and colleagues in a leadership meeting presided over by the acting president Mr. Zillur Rahman.
After the meeting AL said that for any pre dialog talks a formal written invitation must be issued from the government. Otherwise AL will not sit in any discussion. As of the largest party-decision, it is significant. But it is assumed that AL will join in the up coming dialog, which may be held in 3rd week of April 2008. As AL is the main component of 14 party alliance, the decision of AL would be flowed other member-parties.
One of the advisors of government had already a pre dialog meeting with Jamate Islami Bangladesh, a fundamentalist party, one of the allies of 4 party alliance led by BNP. This very ultra rightist party already been agreed to join the dialog.
It seems that with few reservations, most of the political parties are waiting for a dialog with the government, though the government is yet to be developing the agenda and methodology of the long expected dialog.
For government, as it is extra constitutional, the high price of food grains & essentials, shortage of power generation, up coming budget, ensuring social security of citizen, making safety net for hard core poor and arranging the elections, especially the parliamentary election are the challenges to be faced. The success of the dialog could make the government able to overcome the challenges and obviously will give a smooth exit, which might be a landmark for democracy.
E-Mail author: The author of this article, Kazi Mohoshin Al Abbas , is a Bangladesh based senior journalist writes on issues related to socio-political developments in Bangladesh.
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