A curious democratic roadmap
IN MOST countries, ambitious generals and unelected governments have a poor track record of delivering democracy. But this is still the promise to Bangladesh made by the generals who assumed emergency powers in January and the pliable administration they installed. This week the election commission published a roadmap to parliamentary elections to be held before the end of 2008. But the government was silent on when the state of emergency will be lifted.
The next day the government reminded people of one reason why their constitutional rights remain suspended. It stepped up its purge of corrupt politicians, officials and businessmen, more than 150 of whom have been arrested since the beginning of the year.
The police arrested and jailed Sheikh Hasina Wajed, prime minister between 1996 and 2001. She is accused of both extortion and complicity in murder. The police also summoned her nemesis, Khaleda Zia, prime minister until last October, but now in effect under house arrest, to appear in court next month. Both leaders will have to submit “wealth statements” to a powerful Anti-Corruption Commission. Unlike Mrs Zia, who has been more or less dropped by her party, Sheikh Hasina is still popular. So security forces were on the alert after her arrest. But protests were patchy rather than nationwide.
The government had earlier tried—and failed—to exile the two “begums”. In April it barred Sheikh Hasina from returning to the country from Britain, but relented under domestic and international pressure. Then it banned her from leaving. If the prosecutions of the two begums fail, it could spell the end of the interim government. The abortive bid to exile the women, who both led kleptocratic regimes, has already badly dented its credibility.
The anti-corruption drive has made the unelected regime relatively popular. But critics are now accusing it of abusing its wide-ranging emergency powers for political purposes. With almost the entire political class behind bars, the fear is that elections staged at the end of the clean-up will produce a puppet regime.
Last week the army chief, General Moeen U Ahmed, said that there was a need to “correct the constitution”, after a new parliament is in place. Though largely unreported, General Ahmed's promotion in May to a four-star rank means that he will stay on as army chief beyond his original retirement date of June 2008 into 2009, beyond the deadline for elections. There is already talk in Dhaka that the army is thinking of changing the constitution along Turkish lines, giving itself a bigger role. This raises a grim prospect of a technocratic, top-down constitutional review, and an outcome few Bangladeshis would accept as legitimate. #
This article is first published in The Economist, Jul 19th 2007
http://economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9525315
Courts & Government of Bangladesh.
ReplyDeleteI am scared at the various rulings of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh in the recent times. I feel bad when I see the court case of brutal killing of Bangabandu Sheikh Mujib & his family is at idle state in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh while court case against Sheikh Hasina & Khaleda Zia are running very fast. What a fun & farcical? Almost all the contemporary rulings of High court of Bangladesh are being turned down by the Supreme Court as if judges of high court are of insignificant and inexperienced personalities. We can feel present Supreme Court of Bangladesh has been passing judgment in a preconceived notion. It has been serving the purpose of the present controversial government. Is the present government formed legally according to the constitution of Bangladesh? No not at all. Is it within the jurisdiction of the present government what they have been doing with armed forces patronage?
There is nothing wrong if Head of the state gave approval to any file what may later found unworthy. Nobody can forecast the future. The people of Bangladesh have given mandate to the Prime Ministers for that function. However, PM has no right to give any preference in personal interest. I have a feeling that the way our government has been striving to punish our Prime Ministers is a lack of respect to the highest office of Bangladesh. The way Supreme Court is listening & acting is frustrating. They should not think that only they know everything. It appears Supreme Court judges want to send files to them after signing by Prime Minister and President for their approval. Only then they will have nothing to say later. Is that type of system exists anywhere in the world? Bangladesh could be pioneer by involving Supreme Court in decision making of the state. Supreme Court wants that type of nose nudging in the state matter it seems. I feel sorry for my feelings. None is above law except judges! Why criticism is not allowed against judges & their judgments? Do they come from different planet? Are they above all nepotism, greed & affiliations? We want constitutional right to criticize unmerited judgments in any court of the country.
Supreme Court should not behave in such way what makes people to think that they are just licking feet of government machineries. There are millions of pending cases in different courts of Bangladesh for which people have been suffering since long. There are many verdict of court not implemented by the government. There is lot of corruptions going on in courts especially lower courts. I would like to request to have a look into the matter. A judge should be above all affiliations. May I ask why case of Bangabandu is at stand still? Why government & Supreme Court are so silent here? When they are not taking due proceedings then how they are so ultra active in cases against political leaders. I do not understand why there is an ocean difference between the verdicts of high court & Supreme Court? Their must be something wrong. I also do not understand why government is so prompt to appeal against high court rulings? Once government banned Hasina coming home and now government has been trying hard to impose punishment on her by starting so many preposterous cases. One should not think himself very intelligent and people are fool out and out. If there is complain against Hasina & Khaleda for Naiko agreement concerned Presidents should also be there if those files signed by them. Concerned Presidents too should be tried for corruption.
Recently high court has passed a ruling regarding occupying office of Chairman of Election Commission by Mr. Aziz as illegal. There was a case against the President Mr. Yeasuddin for declaring himself as of Chief Advisor of care taker government although he was carrying on the duties of the President. Everybody knows former Chief Justice has manipulated that judgment so that high court could not pass the verdict. This is the level of the then Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Bangladesh. What better do people can expect from that court? People has right to know the verdict of that case against President Yeasuddin in relation to occupying two offices at a time. I would like to request law advisor & Chief Justice of Supreme Court to unveil the screen of that laughable option of the President Yeasuddin.
Barrister Moinul sometimes found murmuring as some corrupted people want to collapse this government. He is thinking himself a hero as if he has done a big job. No, Mr Moinul what you did is just to create a dilemma in our mind so that you can prey well in that shadow. Simply I want to ask this government why price of commodities are shooting up beyond the reach of people. Why farmers are not getting manure for their cultivation? Why so many jute mills have been closed putting workers to an unbearable trouble? Moinul is thinking himself as a very successful and powerful personality. I do suggest him withdraw the emergency - go for a neutral election and then you will see people’s opinion. Are you afraid of people Barrister Moinul? None should forget that people’s court is above Supreme Court. And there is a court above all court is Almighty’s court what does not need any lawyer or witness, where none can fabricate the real truth.
What this government doing with university teachers is just rubbish! We do not want to see out teachers in such as embarrassing position. I find difficult to believe that blood of Manik Mia is flowing in Barrister Moinul. His present unacceptable activities could be due to his over obedience to his evil masters. He just wants to make wicked masters happy at any cost in order to secure or prolong his occupation as law advisor. He could have hidden ambition as well.
In the recent cyclone our government very purposefully ignores politician. Advisors are just puppets of the army. They are walking as per choice of military. One general opined no need to talk to the political leaders. What nonsense! Army officers should not forget that as per constitution they are simple employee of the country. How army chief can open bank account for relief although there is such an account being operated by chief advisor? At the same time government is not allowing political parties to open bank account for collecting funds from their members, supporters & well wishers. How political parties will come forward to help sidr victims? Where they will get money? Do they have money making machine? Government is asking all groups to come forward for sidr victims while not allowing them to collect funds. What hypocrisy?
Arman Mirza
Dhaka.
We lost all faith and confidence on Supreme Court of Bangladesh. How People right for bail have been totally ignored by the Supreme Court. It seems barbarian legal system will soon be implemented in Bangladesh to secure illegal power by the so called care taker government and to punish people of the counntry right and left as desired by army. Chief Justice Ruhul Amin should be promoted to the post of General & Justices of Appellate division as Lieutenant General and president should pass some official order to give them free ration so that they can lick the feet of army more strongly. As nobody can raise question against the actions of President in the emergency. I hate this judgment. I hate judges of Bangladesh. I hate puppet President Yesuddin. They all are criminals and one day they also be tried in the People's Court.
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