The road ahead

have our honourable President Iajuddin Ahmed now in charge of three institutions viz. the presidency, the caretaker government, and the armed forces. It means he is the president, he is the chief of the caretaker government, and he is the defence minister. Our president has now three feathers in his single hat.

As per the constitution, the non-party caretaker government shall be collectively responsible to the president. Again, the president shall appoint not more than 10 other members of the caretaker government on the advice of the chief adviser. From these provisions, it is seen that all powers are now invested in a single hat.

How dangerous and how powerful it is on the one hand, but on the other hand the absolute power can do absolute good for the nation, provided the man behind the power is patriotic, ruthless, and honest.

Let us hope that President Iajuddin would be ruthless against corruption and will show no mercy for the corrupt people, would be committed to the nation's interest to prove his patriotism, and would be honest in his words and deeds. Now a big question -- how these attributions can be achieved and exhibited.

There are questions in the people's mind about exercising different mandatory provisions of the constitution in the appointment of the chief adviser. There are questions about the president's sincerity in offering himself as the chief adviser. There are whispers of conspiracy about all these.

Whatever is in the minds of the people, wrong or right, it is the responsibility of the president, as the chief of the caretaker government, to exhibit his neutrality in deeds, not in words.

In his first address to the nation, after taking oath as chief adviser, he called upon all to co-operate with him in discharging his duties towards holding peaceful, free, and fair election of the 9th Parliament of the country which has to be completed within 90 days of dissolution of the 8th Parliament.

He also, in his speech, called upon all concerned to assist him in selecting other advisers of the caretaker government. President Iajuddin shall appoint 10 other advisers on the advice of the chief adviser (himself). Look how difficult it is on the one hand, and how easy on the other hand!

President Iajuddin is now really in a very difficult situation. But he will have to go with this. He will have to give people's mind the priority, he will have to read and understand their minds, wishes, and aspirations. He will have to understand and determine what the common people want. He will have read correctly the minds of the people. He will have to give utmost attention so that people's hopes and aspirations are reflected in his acts.

The main task of President Iajuddin as chief adviser will be to hold free, fair, and peaceful election -- to present to the nation and the world at large a credible election within the specified time. To accomplish this task, the chief adviser will have to take the following steps to expel distrust from the mind of the people:

• Appoint honest and capable advisers.
• Reshuffle the administration and reform the election commission, which are already politicized to the unthinkable extent.
• Improve law and order situation
• Remove irregularities from government machineries.

It is a tough job, but you will have to do it, Mr President-cum-Chief Adviser.

The author is a former government official.