The new formula has arrived from the judges: Interim government

It’s do not sounds good to talk about the interim government or the election period government right now. Because there is no electoral issue right now. But is everything going on is right? Or is everything happens in Bangladesh has no setback? I think here is no strong opposition at this time in Bangladesh and the opposition party of The House of the Nation is so-called and domestic opposition that obeys the ruling party rather than its leader. 

Present Parliament is not really elected but they are selected

If there is no opposition in the democratic form of government, it may create well and safe environment to work for the public leaders in parliament but it affects the national growth and movement against corruption and violence. 

So what was happened back in two years? Why are we talking about a new formula of interim government, when the current government have passed only one and half years only from their time?

In 2010, a bench of Supreme Court appellate division has ruled out the thirteenth amendment of our constitution due to its undemocratic characteristics. What was actually in the thirteenth amendment of the constitution that was undemocratic? That amendment of constitution was done for the risen political situation then. No political party had supported an election under the ruling party. About every political party had boycotted the sixth national election-1996 and that government was remained in power only for about fifteen days. 

Then from the 7^th national election the caretaker government had conducted every national election till 9^th. The problem happened in 2006, when then BNP led government tried to remain in power manipulating the result of national election by choosing critically the chief of the caretaker government, setting things in such way that the last retired chief justice Mr. M. A. Hasan would take the charges of Chief advisor of the caretaker government. The opposition party now ruling Awami League didn’t agree with it and protested inside and outside of parliament. Violence had happened a lot. About hundreds peoples were killed by both ruling and opposition. Then the president of Bangladesh took the charges of Caretaker government but he had to step down soon. Then a new caretaker government had sworn by in Dhaka back by the military and bureaucrat of the country.

The military backed caretaker government had managed to rule this country for two years and they could present a free and fair election. By winning that election the Awami league had come in power. They had a strong majority to amend the constitution as they like to do. One person had filed an appeal to rule out the thirteenth amendment of the constitution. The Supreme Court after taking the advice of amicus curry ruled out the thirteenth amendment of the constitution. By this rule a political vacuum in question of election time government. 

When the ruling Awami league was strict to hold election under them the opposition alliance was also strict on not to participate in that kind of national election fearing vote rigging, which happens a lot in Bangladesh. They tried to stoop the election through protest, violence, arson, and attack over police, setting fire in public transport, setting fire in polling center etc. But the election was happened and as there was not much political participation in that election the ruling Awami League has own the election for the second time. The opposition remained strict over the legitimacy question and tried to down the government by various movement then and after a year. But they couldn’t do it.

Now the political opposition in Bangladesh though can’t create any pressure over the government to hold an interim election but the intellectuals and now court have expressed their concern over the current political situation or crisis. 

After only five years of silent the Supreme Court has come out with two certain solution at last. Their proposed vision are:

• To form an election time interim government by some of the parliament members of the political parties which have representation in the parliament. The court has also said that as a big part of political parties had boycotted the last election those are out of election should be given a minimum representation proportionately to the allowed technocrat in a ministry in Bangladesh. The important ministry should be divided through lottery to avoid problems. The political parties should be given the share in ministry as their proportion in the national election. For example if the Jatiya Party has 7 percent of total vote then they should be given the 7 percent share in ministry. To do this government hasn’t to amend the constitution further.

•  With the upper solution the court has suggested one more thing to do to avoid such catastrophe over election issue. They told to amend the constitution if necessary and to make the ruling term of a wining part for four years. And if there is an opposition which has half of the ruling party’s vote then they should be given chance to rule the country for remaining one year. But if the opposition has not such percentage in national election then they shouldn’t be given the chance to rule the country for one year and they will have to recognize the full five years term in office by the winner party. 

Though our national level intellectuals and political commentators haven’t yet make any important comments about this proposal, some of them have made cautious remarks. Some of the political leaders rejects the idea that it has no basis. Some says it is a suggestion made by a bench of Supreme Court as the civil societies give many times. 

No one in this country actually hopes that our country’s political parties will accept this suggestion forgetting all of their feud. But if this proposal be accepted then the environment of the politics and national growth must be changed a lot. It should be helpful to avoid many violent conflict among the political parties and presents a free and fair election by which the people of Bangladesh can practice their democratic rights. So we can hope only that positive result must be come.

N.B: Writer is an editorial board member of Bangladesh Outlook and this is written exclusively for Bangladesh Outlook