Caretaker government system
The issue of caretaker government system came to the fore when AL secretary general Syed Ashraful Islam talked on this matter recently. He commented that we have to reconsider the caretaker system in the light of recent incidents and its acceptability in present context. I think this is a issue related to democracy.
Well, the caretaker government was first introduced in 1991election, in the aftermath of the overthrowing of the autocratic Ershad regime. Then Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed assumed the position of the caretaker govt chief. The election held under that caretaker govt was believed to be one of the best-- fair, free and transparent. The election paved the way for reintroduction of parliamentary form of democracy. The BNP formed government. Then in 1994, a by election was held in Magura where election manipulation and election rigging took place under the sponsorship of the ruling party men. the election made the political parties infuriated. Since then the political parties showed lack of enthusiasm to take part in elections under the ruling party. In the 1996 election the then main opposition party AL was not interested to take part in elections under the BNP government.
However, whichever political party assumed state-power, it weakened the Election Commission and in 2006 the BNP govt went one step ahead selecting a loyalist as the caretaker govt head and the political situation became uncertain. It also paved the way for the military backed caretaker govt to take over.
The caretaker govt is a unique system in our country and it is not found anywhere in the world. The caretaker govt system could not be a permanent system and faith must be reposed in political parties.
To give democracy an institutional base, democratic institutions have be revived and strengthened and no political party should weaken the institutions. The Election Commission has to be given freedom as stated in the constitution, so that it can work impartially and without fear and favour.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments