BNP's just concluded Council

The just concluded Council of the BNP offered some interesting ideas but there were disappointments too. The suggestions offered by Khaleda Zia regarding the curtailment of the prime minister's power and bicameral legislature have attracted our attention.

Insofar as curbing the authority of the chief executive is concerned, we would much rather the idea had come when she was the prime minister enjoying a two-third majority as well as all the powers of the PM which now she wants to curtail. But it is better late than never.

The proposition for a bicameral legislature will go down well with those who have been calling for setting up of another house of the Jatiya Sangsad. Four of the eight SAARC countries have two houses of the parliament, and we think the idea is worth serious discussion.

If those were the brighter side of the one-day Council, we were disappointed to see that no elections were held for the various party posts. As before, it has been left to the chairperson to nominate people to these positions. This has once again demonstrated the lack of inner party democracy in the BNP. Regrettably, the method of filling up the party posts, left in the hands of one person only, continues to be a family affair, which will inevitably lead to horse trading where fealty to a single person, and not so much as efficiency, will count towards 'nomination' to these posts. This unfortunately is the hallmark of both the parties and a fundamental weakness that does not bore well for our democratic politics. Inner party democracy is a crucial necessity, for the healthy growth of a political party.

We believe this was a chance for the BNP to demonstrate its committment to democratic practices and earn people's trust, which it has failed to grasp.