Reform of Caretaker Government

Mr. Kibria's suggestion about the Election Commission, explained in the context of the Indian election held recently, is a point that needs serious consideration. However, was it not the AL when in power that tried its best to make the EC as pliable to its whims as possible? The AL appointed the present CEC to his post after it was sanguine of his political leanings. The appointment of the Mancha official Mr. Saifur Rahman as an Election Commissioner left very little doubt in the public mind what the AL expected the EC to do. Finally, during 5 years in power, where was Mr. Kibria and all his bright ideas about the EC? The problem in taking the AL seriously when it speaks of high principles is that these change with changes in its fate. When the AL wins, everything is fine, with the EC, with the caretaker government, et al. When it loses, everything is wrong and the whole system has to be shaped to suit its interests.

Justice Latifur Rahman in his rejoinder has taken Mr. Kibria's views too personally. In fact, by his rejoinder he has rendered credibility to many things Mr. Kibria has said. The irony is both Justice Rahman and President Shahabuddin Ahmed, who have been vilified by the AL after its defeat in the last elections, were both initially acceptable to the AL more than to the BNP. They turned "villain" only when they interfered with the re-election strategy that the AL had painstakingly set, by putting senior bureaucrats in key positions for questionable reasons.

Justice Rahman and the AL both knew months ahead of taking charge that he would be the chief of the caretaker government. Yet, right under his nose, the AL made the bureaucratic changes, including extending terms of the Principal Secretary and Press Secretary. These extensions would have provoked anyone to take the same action that Justice Rahman took.

Democracy is an evolutionary process and the caretaker government concept can be improved. However, it can be done only when the two major parties agree to do so. The AL in which Mr. Kibria holds an important position is not making agreement easy and instead vitiating the prospects of discussion on this and other important issues on our political agenda by agitation. Therefore, given the current state of affairs, the caretaker government concept as it is now, is still our best bet for ensuring governments are changed peacefully by reflecting the popular will.