In democracy we must find positives
It costs Tk 15,000 per minute: We just cannot afford it to be dysfunctional.
THE last few weeks have been eventful. The holding of the parliamentary election in the last week of December 2008 was the first step in the transition of power. After that came the courageous formation of a cabinet with its interesting blend of experience and freshness. It raised eyebrows but almost everyone agreed that it symbolized change that had been the buzz word in the Awami League election manifesto. This was followed by the eventful upazila elections. The fact that this electoral process pertaining to local government was completed at all, needs to be seen as a positive. It may be recalled that many analysts within the civil society had expressed doubts about the completion of such an exercise under an elected political government. They have been proven wrong. It required political will and that was not absent. This however should not be construed as being sufficient. The government will need to continue its constructive engagement. It has to provide full cooperation to the Election Commission in its inquiry into the various allegations pertaining to irregularities in 48 polling centers in the Upazila elections. The subsequent holding of fair, credible and acceptable Upazila polls in the seven suspended upazilas will be a litmus test and the relevant authorities cannot just afford to fail in this regard. The evolution of the democratic trend has been taken forward subsequently through the convening of Ninth Jatiya Sangsad and the election of the Speaker. There have been accusations that the ruling party has not upheld some of its promises and has been arbitrary in deciding on certain procedural formalities. I believe that there is need to rise above controversy and focus on the bigger picture. The baby that symbolizes democratic governance has just finished crawling. It is a toddler which is learning to walk. There have been a few faltering steps. We need to evaluate the situation from that perspective. Let us permit the exceptional promise of democracy to reveal itself slowly. Let us not lose patience. Nevertheless, I also agree with the view that the ruling party with its exceptional majority will not only have to maintain a favourable atmosphere within the Parliament but also make it more inclusive. This will ensure the opposition's continued participation in the House, make the proceedings lively and strengthen democracy. It will also stop repeated walk-outs which are a serious wastage of scarce public resources. Yes, the government has many problems ahead of it. It is going to be difficult restoring discipline, curbing unnecessary enthusiasm and ensuring a stable, secure environment. There is also the question of disagreement at times within the different factions of the associative associations of Awami League itself (Chatra League, Jubo League, Sramik League etc.). Resolving these issues will require self-control, determination and unwavering commitment. The Prime Minister realizes this. Her statements have already clarified that failure to follow this prescription might lead to frustration in achieving desired good governance. The government has been firm and demonstrated the necessary resolve in tackling the ripple of isolated unrest that surfaced after the election. It helped to shore up the law and order situation and restore stability. It was considerably better than what transpired after the 2001 election. This helped to instill some public confidence. Such a spirit needs to be nurtured within every sphere of activity -- particularly within educational institutions and their residential facilities. The atmosphere prevailing in areas of learning must not be permitted to deteriorate other due to partisanship or politicization. It might then seriously impact on discipline and overwhelm governance later on. In this context it would be important to point out that the quintessence of practicing democracy starts within the Parliament. If that can be undertaken successfully, it will take the sting out of the tail. We have focused for the past two years and for five years before that on re-establishing our rights. This can be best safeguarded through a participatory engagement within the political dynamics. The Parliament has to be the focal point of all our political activities. Making it effective will ensure the consolidation of the spirit of democracy. The meaningful involvement of bi-partisanship on national issues and transparent deliberation within parliamentary standing committees and on the floor of the House will avert acrimony and move our developmental process forward. It will also facilitate accountability and assure the reduction of mal-governance particularly in public project expenditure. This attitude will be vital if we are to tackle and achieve the many objectives of balanced development as set forth by this government. Those in the opposition scats within the Parliament also need to understand both inside the Sangsad as well as outside that the needs of the people at large are more important than ego trips and confined agendas which address limited procedural aspects. The members of this Parliament have several tasks ahead of them and there is urgent need that they give attention to them for the sake of national interest. That applies not only for those in the government but also for those in the Opposition. That should be given utmost priority. There are issues like -- resolving the crisis arising out of our energy deficit, achieving food autarky, removing corruption through strengthening of the institutional process, completing the demarcation of our maritime boundary, finding ways and means for diversification of our exports at a time of global recession, re-branding our image abroad, empowering successful devolution of local governance, containing terrorism and militancy, ensuring welfare of our migrant workers and providing them suitable support, upholding of human rights, promoting balanced regional development, generating employment opportunities in our rural hinterland, improving water management and reducing pollution. To this list could also be added the following: streamlining our regulatory mechanism so that it facilitates foreign direct investment (in a competitive international environment) and encourages the spread and intensification of e-commerce through wider use of information technology. There are also other areas where there needs to be convergence of views so that the required process can move forward. That includes the appointment of an Ombudsman and the setting up of a Constitutional Commission to examine seriously a possible review of our Constitution. There is also the question of agreeing on the required steps and measures that will facilitate the holding of the trial of war criminals that has haunted our national conscience for so many decades. Those inside the Parliament should remember that (according to Transparency International Bangladesh) it costs Taka 15,000 per minute to run our Parliament. We have many responsibilities ahead of us and they need to be addressed with a constructive attitude. We just cannot afford a dysfunctional Sangsad at this critical juncture. We now have a new President of the Republic. Let him feel proud of the Parliament of which, till recently, he had been the Deputy Leader of the House. Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador and can be reached at mzamir@dhaka.net
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